QinetiQ has been awarded a £67 million contract to deliver the vital laser technology for the UK’s first operational directed-energy weapons, with the systems destined for Royal Navy warships from 2027. This award is part of a major £316 million Ministry of Defence (MoD) contract given to MBDA, the prime contractor for the DragonFire laser weapon programme, to produce the initial units.
The contract follows highly successful trials of the DragonFire system at the QinetiQ-operated MOD Hebrides range in November 2023. The new funding enables QinetiQ to continue its unique role in developing and manufacturing the high-power laser source, the core component of the DragonFire system. QinetiQ will also apply its deep expertise to ensure the safe and effective testing of this transformative capability.
“This contract is a testament to QinetiQ’s expertise in developing, testing and engineering novel and disruptive technologies at pace,” said Steve Wadey, Group Chief Executive Officer at QinetiQ. “We are proud of the vital role we continue to play in delivering Europe’s leading laser weapon technology to our warfighters. It is a welcome milestone as industry and government work together to accelerate the adoption of laser directed energy weapons.”
Once deployed, DragonFire will provide the Royal Navy with a highly accurate, cost-effective new layer of air defence. Designed to engage threats like drones and missiles at the speed of light, it offers a deep magazine limited only by its power supply, representing a significant step-change in defensive capabilities.
The programme sustains approximately 120 high-skilled QinetiQ jobs, predominantly in the west and south of England, and supports a robust UK supply chain involving more than 100 suppliers, including 50 small and medium-sized enterprises. This investment underscores the UK’s commitment to maintaining a technological edge and fostering a sovereign defence industrial base in next-generation weaponry.
