Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of the funding allocated in the Defence Investment Plan to Directed Energy Weapons will be spent on (a) laser-directed energy weapons, including DragonFire, and (b) Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapons.

The £490 million allocated within the Defence Investment Plan for Directed Energy Weapons supports the development of both laser-directed energy weapons, including the DragonFire system, and Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapons.

The Ministry of Defence has awarded a contract valued at £316 million (excluding VAT) for the procurement of two DragonFire laser-directed energy weapon units. This contract forms part of the overall funding allocation for Directed Energy Weapons within the four-year Defence Investment Plan.

However, the Ministry does not disclose the precise breakdown of funding between individual Directed Energy Weapon technologies or programmes. This is to protect commercial interests and to ensure the Department's ability to secure value for money in future procurement activities is not compromised.