The British government announced on Friday the success of a test of a long-range laser weapon against air targets conducted in Scotland.
The government said in a statement on its website that the laser technology, which was successfully used against air targets in the Ministry of Defence’s Hebrides region, could “enhance the operations of the British Armed Forces with greater precision while reducing reliance on high-cost munitions.”
She confirmed that the DragonFire Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) system achieved the first high-energy launch of a laser weapon in the United Kingdom against long-range aerial targets, indicating that the range that the DragonFire weapon can reach is secret, but it is “a weapon on the line of sight and can deal with any weapon.” Visible target.
She stated that the laser weapon “is characterized by extreme accuracy” equivalent to striking a £1 coin from a distance of 1,000 metres, adding: “Laser directed energy weapons can engage targets at the speed of light, and use an intense beam of light to penetrate the target, leading to structural failure.” "Or more impactful results if the warhead is targeted."
Defense Secretary Grant Chubb said: “This type of advanced weapon has the potential to revolutionize the battlefield by reducing reliance on expensive ammunition, while also reducing the risk of collateral damage.”
“Investments with industry partners in advanced technologies like DragonFire are critical in a hyper-competitive world, helping us maintain a winning edge in the fight and keeping the nation safe,” he added.
For the first time Apple becomes the most famous smartphone manufacturer in the world!
Apple has overtaken Samsung to become the world's most popular smartphone manufacturer for the first time.
The iPhone maker shipped more than 80 million devices in 2023, according to a new report issued by market research firm International Data Corporation (IDC), which saw its total market share reach 24.7%.
The high market share pushes Apple to overtake Samsung, which has held first place since 2010.
“While we saw some strong growth from lower-end Android players like Transsion and Xiaomi in the second half of 2023, as a result of rapid growth in emerging markets, the big winner is clearly Apple,” said Nabila Popal, research director at IDC. "Not only is it showing positive year-on-year growth in the top three, but it is also ranked number one year-on-year for the first time ever. All this despite facing increasing regulatory challenges and renewed competition from Huawei in China, its largest market."
Bhopal attributed Apple's success to the growing popularity of premium devices, which now represent more than 20% of the market.
The latest data comes amid a decline in consumer interest in smartphones, according to data from market analysis company Canalys. The latest shipment figures revealed that global demand for smartphones fell to its lowest level in a decade last year.
The IDC report was published ahead of Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event, which will see the South Korean electronics giant unveil its latest range of smartphones.
Samsung faces increasing competition from other Android devices, as Google, Honor, OnePlus, and Xiaomi all offer alternatives at different price levels.
“The overall shift in rankings at the top of the market further highlights the intensity of competition within the smartphone market,” said Ryan Reith, of IDC's Global Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers division.