QinetiQ has secured a £67 million contract from MBDA to continue work on the laser source for the Royal Navy’s DragonFire directed-energy weapon, reinforcing the UK’s investment in next-generation naval air defense technologies.
The award builds on DragonFire’s successful live-fire trials in November 2025, during which the system neutralized high-speed unmanned aerial targets at the MOD Hebrides test range. The trials represented a historic first for the UK, achieving an above-the-horizon laser engagement against airborne threats.
DragonFire is being prepared for operational deployment aboard Royal Navy surface combatants, with initial installations planned on Type 45 air defense destroyers starting in 2027. First unveiled in 2017, the laser weapon was designed to counter drones, missiles, and other aerial threats at a fraction of the cost of traditional interceptors, offering precise engagement with minimal logistical burden.
The program is managed by MBDA, working alongside QinetiQ and Leonardo to deliver a fully integrated naval laser system. While early plans targeted deployment in the mid-2030s, the UK government moved to fast-track the capability in 2024, responding to emerging global threats and culminating in a £316 million production and integration contract to bring DragonFire into frontline Royal Navy service.
