The UK government has announced a £5 billion investment in autonomous drone and laser weapon technology to protect British troops and warships.
The funding includes approximately £4 billion for autonomous systems and almost £1 billion for directed energy weapons (DEW), which the government said will enhance frontline capabilities.
The move forms part of the government’s plans to drive innovation within NATO under the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), informed by lessons from the war in Ukraine.
The investment includes the DragonFire laser, which represents the first high-power laser capability developed by a European nation.
The SDR recommends that an immediate priority for force transformation should be a shift towards greater use of autonomy. To achieve this, it states that defence must incorporate uncrewed and autonomous systems in significant numbers over the next five years and make targeted investment in the development of novel directed energy weapons.
The government said the increased investment in autonomous systems will improve drone accuracy and lethality for the UK Armed Forces whilst boosting Britain’s export potential.
It added that new DEW capabilities will provide the UK with an operational advantage, creating low-cost and sustainable alternatives to missiles for engaging targets, reducing collateral damage and offering a low cost per shot, which will reduce reliance on expensive ammunition.
The systems will be tailored to the conditions in which they will operate – whether at sea, on land, or in the air – and will work alongside crewed assets, including current and future fighter jets.
A new drone centre will be established to accelerate the development of small, uncrewed air systems across all three military services, which the government said will help deliver them to the front line more rapidly.
The centre will provide a central knowledge base to address emerging legislative changes, develop best practice and better manage interaction with industry.
The government added that it will apply battlefield lessons from Ukraine, where drones now account for more casualties than traditional artillery.
“These investments will mean the most significant advance in UK defence technology in decades and we will ensure our Armed Forces have the cutting-edge capabilities they need to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world,” said Defence Secretary John Healey.
“We are delivering the Strategic Defence Review’s vision to put the UK at the leading edge of innovation in NATO, by backing British industry and fast-tracking the kit of the future into the hands of frontline troops.”
