The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) has announced plans to continue strengthening national C-UAS capabilities and, more specifically, directed energy weapons (DEW). Maria Eagle, Minister of State for Defence, emphasised this commitment in response to parliamentary inquiries by James Cartlidge, MP for South Suffolk, highlighting the government’s ongoing efforts to safeguard against the evolving UAS threat.
In her responses, Eagle noted the importance of bolstering the UK’s defence industrial base to advance sovereign capabilities in the defence sector. She explained:
“The Ministry of Defence (MOD) continues to evolve and strengthen our C-UAS capabilities. To counter the growing threat from UAS, the MOD has developed and procured a broad range of cutting-edge C-UAS capabilities, including from UK industries.”
The MOD’s efforts in this area are guided by the Strategic Defence Review, which aims to ensure the UK is resilient in the face of new challenges. Eagle noted that while specific details regarding these capabilities were withheld for security reasons, the MOD’s partnerships with UK industries are central to developing effective C-UAS technologies that counter the growing threats from unmanned systems.
Eagle outlined the MOD’s focus on enhancing sovereign DEW technology, which includes laser-based systems capable of neutralising threats. She stated:
“The Ministry of Defence has committed to accelerating the continued investment in UK Sovereign DEW technology, to provide cutting edge capability to the Armed Forces swiftly.”
The DEW programme, which includes the development of the DragonFire laser system, aims to deliver operational capabilities from 2027, with full deployment anticipated in the 2030s. Since its inception in 2018, the programme has been designed to stimulate UK industry by developing a capability that prioritises a sovereign approach.
Promoting UK industry
Eagle also connected these advancements to the government’s broader economic objectives, aligning the Defence Industrial Strategy with the Invest 2025 Modern Industrial Strategy.
“We will ensure that this will link into the government’s wider ‘Invest 2025’ Modern Industrial Strategy, which includes a clear focus on promoting UK industry,” she explained.
These integrated strategies are expected to reinforce the UK’s industrial capacity, support job creation and align security priorities with economic growth.
These initiatives are part of a broader move to establish a more robust, independent defence framework capable of adapting to rapidly evolving threats, with the MOD aiming to secure the UK’s position both at home and on the international stage.
Post Image – The UK MOD’s DragonFire laser DEW system (Post Image Credit: UK MOD)
