DragonFire's promise and the limits of an anti-ship laser

Does DragonFire mark the arrival of directed-energy weapons, and could an anti-ship version appear within eight years?

It is promising for drone defence, but an anti-ship version would require much greater power and is unlikely on that timescale.

Damaging a ship with a laser requires much greater power density and control than dazzling or destroying a drone. An anti-ship DragonFire variant within eight years is therefore considered unlikely in this forecast. The number of mounts fitted offers one suggested indication of confidence in the system: one provides an extra layer, two provide coverage, and three would suggest a willingness to depend on it. Early installations are expected to combine lasers with conventional close-in weapons for backup. These are expectations about future deployment, rather than a report of an established ship fit.