DragonFire fitted to first Type 45 destroyer by 2027 as part of £5bn drone and laser funding
The UK is set to invest £5bn in drone and laser weapons to protect its troops and warships.
This is part of increased government defence spending targets and recommendations in the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) to transform the Armed Forces.
The aim is to learn lessons from Ukraine about the changing nature of modern warfare and incorporate the latest technology into the military.
A budget of £4bn will be allocated for developing autonomous systems, with an additional £1bn to deliver the first European laser-directed energy weapon to the Royal Navy – the DragonFire laser.
The DragonFire system is due to be fitted to the first Type 45 destroyer by 2027, with more to follow.
The goal is to provide the Army with similar technology at a later date.
"These investments will mean the most significant advance in UK defence technology in decades," said Defence Secretary John Healey.
"We will ensure our Armed Forces have the cutting-edge capabilities they need to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world."
There are also plans to create a drone centre for the Armed Forces, to help integrate the technology more efficiently across all three services and implement battlefield lessons from Ukraine.
The significant investment follows guidelines outlined in the SDR for the Armed Forces to increase uncrewed and autonomous systems over the next five years and develop novel directed energy weapons.
"We are delivering the Strategic Defence Review's vision to put the UK at the leading edge of innovation in Nato, by backing British industry and fast-tracking the kit of the future into the hands of frontline troops," said Mr Healey.
Drones have the potential to improve accuracy and lethality for the Armed Forces, and laser technology is a low-cost and sustainable alternative to missiles.
These systems can be tailored to operate at sea, on land or in the air.
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