Britain has been developing a laser air defense system called DragonFire. Originally it hadn't been scheduled for deployment until 2027 but the war in Ukraine may offer the UK an opportunity to test its capabilities by seeing how well DragonFire takes out Russian drones fired at Ukraine.

The DragonFire weapon, which is expected to be in service by 2027 at the latest, can hit a target the size of a £1 coin from a kilometre away. Reforms aimed at speeding up procurement mean that DragonFire will now be operational five years earlier than planned. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps travelled down to the Porton Down military research base in Salisbury in an attempt to speed development up even further "in order for Ukrainians perhaps to get their hands on it". "I've come down to speed up the production of the DragonFire laser system because I think given that there's two big conflicts on, one sea-based, one in Europe, this could have huge ramifications to have a weapon capable particularly of taking down drones," Mr Shapps told journalists. "And so what I want to do is speed up what would usually be a very lengthy development procurement process, possibly up to ten years, based on my conversations this morning, to a much shorter timeframe to get it deployed, potentially on ships, incoming drones, and potentially on land. "Again, incoming drones, but it doesn't take much imagination see how that could be helpful in Ukraine for example." Laser-directed energy weapons can strike at the speed of light, using an intense light beam to cut through their target. They are a lower-cost alternative to using missiles to strike down drones, costing only about £10 per shot.

You can't argue with cheap, fast, and accurate. Ukrainians are quick learners, highly motivated, and amazing innovators. DragonFire and Ukraine would be a great match.

The new procurement model, which comes into effect this week, is aimed at speeding up the process of getting cutting-edge developments in military capability like DragonFire out on to the field. "It's designed to not wait until we have this at 99.9% perfection before it goes into the field, but get it to sort of 70% and then get it out there and then... develop it from there," Mr Shapps said. Asked whether the system might be ready earlier than 2027, he said: "Because I'm here, I've taken the opportunity to arrange additional conversations with colleagues about whether we could speed it up even faster, very much using the integrated procurement model of saying there's a war on - let's say that it didn't have to be 100% perfect in order for Ukrainians perhaps to get their hands on it, can we do any better - but 2027 is still the date as of this moment. "But of course I'll look to see what we can do to speed up."

Ukraine may be the equivalent of a beta tester for DragonFire. Experience in Ukraine would be used for improvements to the weapons system.

So far, laser defense systems are being developed particularly in connection with naval uses. Here's a vid from late 2021 which outlines the potential uses for and challenges to use of such systems.

It makes me grin to recall that the High Valyrian word for DragonFire is Dracarys.

Grant Shapps

Da fuck is this tweet?

Is Grant Shapps implying that working on your days off should be mandatory? And that the idea of voluntary overtime is an anachronism?

The Tories really do want to own us, don't they?

So Jez from Peep Show is now in charge of the UK's defence and it's very normal.

“Practically every environmental problem we have can be traced to our addiction to fossil fuels, primarily oil.”

Dennis Weaver

Oilman Sunak today (27/09/23) approved fossil fuel drilling in the North Sea. This policy is “better for our energy security", said the Prime Minister. Absolute nonsense!

Greenpeace remind us that 80% of oil produced in British waters is already exported. What is more, the Russian-Ukrainian war that is often used as an excuse for ensuring  “energy security” is a misleading argument as only 3% of the gas we use is from Russia.

There is another flaw with “we must drill for oil and gas to secure or own energy supplies” argument.  What Rishi Sunak and energy secretary Grant Shapps neglect to tell us is that any fossil fuels extracted from the North Sea BELONG TO THE LICENCE HOLDER not the UK government. They can sell that oil and gas wherever they like.

To make matters worse, Sunak is granting licenses to foreign multinationals and foreign state-owned fossil fuel companies. It is these companies that will benefit the most from the massive profits that the fossil fuel market has generated in recent years.

“Monster profits for energy giants reveal a self-destructive fossil fuel resurgence.”  (Guardian:09/02/23)

As if that wasn’t a big enough weakness in Sunak’s strategy then consider this

In July of this year (2023) the government passed the Energy (Oil and Gas) Profits Levy Bill, which, among other things introduced a new “super- deduction” style investment relief scheme. This quote from a government minister says it all.

“The new 80 per cent investment allowance will mean that, overall, businesses will get a 91p tax saving for every £1 they invest, providing them with a clear incentive to do so.” (Chartered Institute for Taxation: 15/07/230

In other words, the British taxpayer, you and I, will be giving foreign owned fossil fuel companies £91 for every £100 they invest in North Sea fossil fuel extraction.

If we were private investors we would expect and get a return on any profits the fossil fuel companies make proportionate to how much we had invested in the companies. What dividend does the British Taxpayer receive for such a massive investment in private companies? NONE!

 Britain, or rather, the Conservative Party, has ruled out a Sovereign Wealth Fund.

“The UK government doesn’t have a sovereign wealth fund and the Government currently has no plans to introduce one.” (House of Commons Library: UK Sovereign Wealth Fund: 09/12/16)

Our government quite literally gives taxpayer money to private companies, some of which are owned by the sovereign wealth funds of other countries, and expects nothing back in return. I am sure Rishi Sunak didn’t make his own estimated wealth of £730million by giving away money and not expecting a return on his investment so why does he expect the British taxpayer to act differently? Could it be he wants a job in the oil industry when he is kicked out of office?

Hang on - so we’ve taken back control of our borders cos we no longer want to be part of the EU, but Grant Shapps still expects the French to let us come and go as we please across their border. Have I got that right? As they say somewhere, quel culot ce mec

Personally I wouldn’t want to appear in a photo next to bozo johnson either

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Grant Shapps

As if this government wasn't already utterly ridiculous, I drop off for a couple of hours to find when I wake up that:

We have yet another new Cabinet MInister

The Home Secretary has resigned (cos she sent an official email a) from a personal email account, and b) to someone she shouldn't have)

We have a new Home Secretary who is Grant Shapps (aka Michael Green, aka Corinne Stockheath, aka Sebastian Fox)

Now, the new Home Sec once had to deny having used one of these pseudonyms after he'd been elected to parliament, and then threatened to take legal action against the constituent who had said publicly that he had.

"I don't have a second job and have never had a second job while being an MP. End of story."

However, later Mr Shapps admitted to a) having had a second job while being an MP, and b) practising business under a pseudonym.

In his admission, he stated that he had "over-firmly denied" having a second job.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the trustworthy and honest guy now in charge of the police, immigration policy, etc.

I mean...at this point...what can you...*sigh*