QinetiQ has been awarded a contract worth 67 million British pounds to contribute to the delivery of the United Kingdom's first directed energy laser weapons to the Royal Navy from 2027, according to QinetiQ's press release.
According to QinetiQ, the contract follows additional tests conducted with the United Kingdom's DragonFire laser weapon last November at the MOD Hebrides range, operated by QinetiQ. The press release states that the UK's Defence Minister Luke Pollard subsequently announced a contract worth 316 million pounds, awarded to MBDA as the main supplier within the DragonFire industry partnership, for the production and delivery of the first DragonFire units. These are to be integrated onto Royal Navy ships from 2027 as an extension of existing air defence capabilities, according to QinetiQ.
– “We are proud of the important role we continue to play in delivering Europe's leading laser weapon technology to our combat forces,” says Steve Wadey, Group Chief Executive of QinetiQ, in the press release.