British Army seeks rapid fielding of land laser weapons against drone threats.

According to information published by the UK Ministry of Defence on June 13, 2025, through a Preliminary Market Engagement Notice, the British Army is pursuing urgent acquisition of vehicle-mounted Laser Directed Energy Weapons (LDEWs) to counter hostile small uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) at standoff ranges exceeding one kilometre. The procurement is managed by Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) and is backed by a budget of up to £20 million, with deployment of multiple complete systems required within 12 months of contract award.
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The requested Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) solutions must integrate the laser effector, power generation and storage systems, thermal management, electro-optical sensors, and tracking capabilities into a single mobile platform. (Picture source: British MoD)

The requested Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) solutions must integrate the laser effector, power generation and storage systems, thermal management, electro-optical sensors, and tracking capabilities into a single mobile platform suitable for frontline deployment. Proposals must include demonstration of the system’s effectiveness under operational conditions at designated Ministry of Defence test facilities. In line with the Defence Procurement Act, a minimum of 50% UK industrial content by value is mandated to support sovereign capability and local supply chains. The contract period is scheduled from August 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026, with supplier engagement activities, including one-on-one consultations, running from June 16 to July 11, 2025.

Among the most prominent UK-based defence contractors expected to compete for the program is Raytheon UK, which leads a consortium of British firms and SMEs that successfully trialed its High Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS) on a Wolfhound armoured vehicle in July 2024. Conducted at the Dstl’s Porton Down facility, these trials demonstrated the HELWS’ ability to acquire, track, and neutralize Class 1 drones at ranges exceeding one kilometre, validating its combat utility in real-world counter-UAS scenarios. The Raytheon-led team, including partners such as NP Aerospace, Frazer-Nash, Blighter Surveillance Systems, Cambridge Pixel, and LumOptica, has emphasized domestic industrial collaboration to meet the MOD’s 50% UK content requirement while offering a scalable, integrated capability with rapid deployment potential.

Another major competitor is the DragonFire consortium, spearheaded by MBDA UK in cooperation with QinetiQ and Leonardo. DragonFire has been under active development for several years and has reached a significant level of technical maturity. During a series of high-profile trials at the UK’s Hebrides Range and other Ministry of Defence test sites, the system achieved pinpoint targeting and destruction of aerial targets using beam-combined laser technology. The DragonFire system features advanced beam director optics, adaptive tracking algorithms, and integrated thermal control—making it one of the most sophisticated directed energy demonstrators currently in Europe. Its modular architecture and focus on precision engagement align closely with the British Army’s need for a robust, mobile, and effective counter-UAS solution.

Thales UK and QinetiQ are also expected to submit advanced concepts, notably through their work on radio-frequency directed energy weapons (RFDEWs) under Project Ealing. While RFDEWs differ from traditional high-energy lasers, their demonstrated ability to disable or disrupt drone electronics through concentrated electromagnetic pulses offers a complementary approach to layered air defence. Recent Thales-led trials with vehicle-mounted RFDEWs showcased the capability to disable drone swarms in a single engagement, highlighting their value in scenarios involving massed aerial threats.

Supporting these lead integrators are numerous specialist firms critical to system success. Leonardo UK and Cambridge Pixel provide cutting-edge electro-optical tracking systems and sensor fusion software, while BAE Systems offers proven vehicle integration expertise and electronic architecture tailored for the British Army’s protected mobility platforms. These companies are expected to play a vital role in sensor integration, platform survivability, command-and-control interoperability, and battlefield networking, ensuring that any proposed LDEW solution is not only effective, but also seamlessly integrated into existing operational structures.

Laser Directed Energy Weapons provide a decisive tactical edge against contemporary aerial threats such as drones, loitering munitions, and quadcopters. Typically powered at outputs ranging from 10 to 50 kilowatts, these systems offer silent, instantaneous engagements with extreme precision and near-zero collateral damage. Unlike kinetic weapons, they rely solely on electric power, offering theoretically unlimited magazine depth limited only by energy availability. The low cost-per-shot—often under £10—and absence of physical ammunition simplify logistics and allow sustained operations in high-threat environments. LDEWs are ideal for defending fixed sites, convoy routes, and maneuvering units, where they can be networked with existing air defense radars and battlefield management systems for coordinated threat response.

This initiative marks a strategic shift in British land forces' approach to counter-UAS warfare, emphasizing rapid fielding, indigenous technology development, and adaptable systems capable of addressing future aerial threat evolutions. By leveraging operational testing and direct industry engagement, the British Army aims to accelerate the integration of laser weapons into its force structure as a core component of layered air defense in contested environments.