A laser weapon capable of accurately hitting targets is currently in development for the U.K. Armed Forces.

According to its developers, the DragonFire laser-directed energy weapon (LDEW) system, which has been in development since 2017, has now successfully fired at aerial targets for the first time in a trial conducted at the MOD’s Hebrides Range, which is located off the northwest coast of Scotland and features a deep range for complex weapons trials and in-service firings, as well as an inner range for ground-based air defense test and evaluation.

Source: Government of U.K.

With an operating cost of under $13 per shot, the DragonFire is reportedly cheaper than conventional missiles. Further, the DragonFire’s so-called “pinpoint accuracy” promises to enable the U.K. to target enemies more precisely than other weapons while also reducing the use of expensive ammunition. Additionally, the weapon can reportedly cut through targets at the speed of light, thereby causing structural damage or detonating warheads.

The DragonFire project, which is being led by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), is expected to soon bring the LDEW technology into service for the Army and the Royal Navy.