Written question asked by Lord Spellar (Labour) on Friday, 5 June 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Friday, 19 June 2026. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Thursday, 18 June 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Weapons: Lasers

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect directed energy weapons designed to combat low cost drones to be available to the UK armed forces.

Answer: The UK Government is committed to accelerating the development and deployment of directed energy weapons to counter low-cost drones. The UK is a world leader in research on High-Energy Lasers and Radio Frequency weapons, working with key allies who share our mutual aims in this field. The first DragonFire high-energy laser system is due to be installed on a Type 45 destroyer in 2027, five years ahead of the original plan. This will make the UK the first European NATO nation to operationally deploy advanced laser directed energy technology.

Secondary information