Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to increase funding for R&D on Directed Energy Weapons.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has committed to accelerating and the continued investment in UK Sovereign Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) technology, to provide cutting edge capability to the Armed Forces at pace. The programme is delivering capability demonstrators, accelerated Minimum Deployable Capabilities including DragonFire delivering Laser DEW into operational capability from 2027, and preparing to deliver DEW capability into core service in the 2030's.

Since 2020, Defence has invested in the Directed Energy Weapons Programme with the DragonFire Laser DEW accelerated programme, seeing £350 million in Government investment by April 2027 to deliver minimum deployable capability. The MOD is committed to the continued investment in UK Sovereign DEW technology, to provide cutting edge capability to the Armed Forces at pace.