Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the four Royal Navy vessels that will be equipped with the DragonFire laser in 2027.

The Royal Navy sees the adoption of novel technologies as critical to delivering the lethality of the Hybrid Navy. DRAGONFIRE is a cutting-edge Laser Directed Energy Weapon system and the programme remains on schedule to commence delivery from 2027.

DRAGONFIRE is a modular capability providing the Royal Navy agility as to when and where it is deployed, therefore it is not possible to list specific ships into which the capability will be installed. The inclusion of the mission modules concept across the Hybrid Navy, which is already being delivered in the Type 26 and Type 31 Frigates, provides maximum tactical flexibility as to where the Navy could deploy this weapon.