'DragonFire': UK releases video of its first laser weapon | Watch

The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence has released a video of a firing exercise by its first-ever laser weapon - DragonFire.

The ministry said that the video was of the weapon's 'first high-power firing against an aerial target.'

It said that DragonFire was precise enough to hit £1 coin from a kilometre away

The test was conducted in January but the video was posted by the defence ministry on March 11.

The UK is looking at DragonFire as a low-cost alternative to missiles.

According to the UK goverment's website, 'the cost of operating the laser is typically less than £10 per shot.'

'The range of DragonFire is classified, but it is a line-of-sight weapon and can engage with any visible target,' the website added.

The website explained that 'laser-directed energy weapons can engage targets at the speed of light, and use an intense beam of light to cut through the target.'