QinetiQ Secures £67 Million Laser Weapon Contract With Royal Navy
QinetiQ has been awarded a £67 million role in the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy laser weapon effort, reinforcing its part in the development and delivery of the DragonFire directed energy weapon system, the company confirmed.
The contract sits within the wider DragonFire programme, aimed at equipping Royal Navy ships with high-power laser weapons as part of air defence modernization. Initial integration of DragonFire systems on naval platforms is scheduled to begin in 2027.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Under the terms, prime contractor MBDA UK has selected QinetiQ to continue development and production of the laser source at the heart of the DragonFire system. QinetiQ’s responsibilities also include expertise in safe test and evaluation of the directed energy weapon.
Group Chief Executive Officer Steve Wadey said the award highlights QinetiQ’s role in delivering cutting-edge laser technology to military users. The firm said the work will support about 120 jobs across its facilities, drawing on more than 100 UK suppliers, including about 50 small and medium enterprises.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});The DragonFire programme itself has moved ahead after a series of trials, including tests against fast drones at the Ministry of Defence’s Hebrides Range. In late 2025 the UK government announced a separate £316 million contract with MBDA to produce and deliver the first operational DragonFire units for Royal Navy ships.
The laser weapon is part of a broader effort to add directed energy systems to naval fleets as a complement to traditional missiles and guns, with proponents citing rapid response times and low cost per engagement as potential advantages.
