Test firing a LASER cannon that is designed to unleash Star Wars-style combats has taken place for the first time.
Britain’s Dragon Fire blasted a drone from over two miles away.
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Central Recorder has taken photos of the quadcopter in flames.
The laser’s invisible 50kW beam can hit targets the size of a £1 coin that is travelling at the speed of sound.
Sources said the laser – which boasts “pin point accuracy” – could revolutionise future wars as it needs no ammunition.
It could also be used to destroy enemy satellites and Russian hypersonic missiles.
The £100million prototype, which needs no ammunition, had never been fired at full power prior to tests at the MoD’s Porton Down range in Wiltshire last week.
It uses mirrors to focus heat onto one point.
Tests went up to 2.1 miles but the laser’s top range is classified.
Sources claim that the gun was placed on top of a hill, and fired downwards into an unnatural bowl to ensure safety.
As they are sufficiently powerful, it is likely to first be used on warships.
It was constructed entirely in Britain and built by scientists at QiniteQ, Leonardo, and MBDA.
Ben Maddison from the Defence Science and Technology Lab said that the tests showed Britain had been successful. “world-leading capability”.
DSTL stated: “To ensure absolute safety it was necessary that the effects were contained within the range area.”
According to a source, one of the greatest challenges was designing a laser system that could aim powerfully without burning itself.
Edinburgh-based Leonardo said: “The results so far have been impressive, with pin-point accuracy maintained at long-ranges.
“The next step will be to mature this technology and develop it into a battlefield-ready suite of capabilities.”
Because they are sufficiently powerful, it is likely that this will be used first on warships.