The Ministry of Defence is exploring how the DragonFire laser could be used in a range of operational environments, and its year-by-year spending will be balanced against other directed energy projects, according to answers given in Parliament.
James Cartlidge, the Conservative MP for South Suffolk, asked whether it is policy to extend DragonFire to land-based applications, and Ben Obese-Jecty, the Conservative MP for Huntingdon, asked what progress had been made on equipping it at sea and on land. Luke Pollard, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, gave both the same reply:
“As announced in the Defence Investment Plan, the Ministry of Defence will invest £490 million in Directed Energy Weapons, including DragonFire. The programme continues to make excellent progress, building on successful trials and demonstrating the UK’s world-leading expertise in directed energy weapons. With the transition to a Hybrid Navy and modernisation of our Armed Forces, we are exploring how DragonFire could be utilised in a range of operational environments.”
Cartlidge also asked how much funding had been allocated to DragonFire in each year from 2026-27 to 2029-30. Pollard replied: “Following the publication of the Defence Investment Plan, the Ministry of Defence has allocated £490 million for the development of Directed Energy Weapons, including the DragonFire programme, across the period up to and including financial year 2029-30. Funding is managed across the programme as a whole, and the year-by-year spend on DragonFire will be balanced within the available budget against other directed energy projects.”
Asked by Cartlidge about progress on delivering the first system into Royal Navy service by 2027, Pollard replied: “I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 20 July 2026 to Question 17420.”
The bell of disinterest keeps tolling.
The bells of procrastination and poverty are also ringing in harmony.
That will be “not for a very long time,” then?
At this rate it’ll not be “a Royal Navy destroyer” but “the Royal Navy destroyer”
Maybe it’s time for governments across Europe to place a wartime restriction on public announcements on defence developments and programmes? Such a move would irritate the hell out of we military enthusiasts and reduce the content of such sites as this, but maybe it would be wise considering Russia’s military expansion and open threats?
Mate that would be the best news for the current crop of clowns in charge, as they would do absolutely bare minimum and love the fact there would be no information that opposition MPs and the public could challenge them on. Bad idea, but let’s be honest the Russian and Chinese know exactly what we are doing in defence, little doubt about that. Cheers.
It’s not just the opposition that’s doing the loudest challenging it’s the Labour MP who chairs the Commons Select Committee for Defence. I’m not a fan of Labour but Tan Dhesi MP is like a Dog with a bone, he just will not back down. If you ever get the chance try and get a look at what happened when he had Starmer cornered in front of his committee earlier this.
For 30 minutes he ground Starmer down on the delays to delivering the DIP and eventually he admitted that the DIP was finished last year but had been stuck waiting for a final decision re funding for 6 months. So next question was “who’s desk is it stuck on” his reply was “mine”.
Agreed mate.
Dhesi is doing the best job he can with the restrictions in place, being that the HoCDSC has no real power whatsoever and witnesses side step questions all the time.
The sooner the budget, force level and equipment programme are endorsed and ring fenced by Parliament the better.
Which will never happen of course.
Starmer? Another non entity petrified by his own shadow people actually voted for.
Agreed mate as the Tories don’t have a leg to stand on regarding defence yet the defence select committee are asking the right questions and digging into various holes, which HMG would like to cover! Cheers.
The problem is the Defence Committee have no teeth. Whereas if they were similar to the US, then they would have significant powers to not only hold the Government to account on Defence matters, but also to audit the running of programs. Sadly it’s not ever going to happen, as that would mean Government surrendering some of its powers.
Airborne, the issue here is the public exposure of success and failure. Okay, Russia and China know a lot of our plans, yet observation and comment could be of huge benefit to our adversaries. As for our leaders doing less without public scrutiny, this may be less than you think, as the undeniable intent of Russia to continue to threaten our peace can not be left to gravity. A wartime level of censorship at this time is one option open to governments to at least consider.
We know Russia is the most dangerous peer advise this time mate, however the public exposure at the moment regarding defence is totally negative, as these muppets in charge cannot even pretend to have their act together or the cabinet in agreement. As for wartime level of censorship, that’s a socialist Governments dream, one which regarding the internet and online platforms they are trying to control already for totally different and selfish political purposes. Cheers.
Agreed.
This is one of the reasons I think that prioritising the ‘drone fleet’ idea over the Type 83 was a mistake.
A larger ship can potentially carry a more powerful DEW
Drone Fleet LMFAO – all done on the cheap.
Agreed 👍
Sadly the Navy is looking more mickey mouse by the day!
So it’s “Smoke and Mirrors” time at MOD but it’s still 2027 for the 1st Ship install but they are no longer saying it’s going to definitely be a T45 ! Well I suppose if we are being sensible about it and it’s only 1 to start off with then it’s best not to broadcast which ship it will be.
In reality there are only 3 options as you need a surplus of Electricity so it’s going to have to be either a T45, QE or curve ball HMS Glasgow (FOC T26) as all are in one form or another GT/DG powered Electric ships and you wouldn’t pick a T23 because we just don’t have any to spare and I’m pretty sure they are maxed out on their weight margin.
Biggest issue for the operational RN at the moment is availability of ships due to lack of numbers and the refit / upgrade / maintenance issues. So pulling another one in for additional work or extending an existing job is probably a risk too far.
Given the above I’d pick HMS Glasgow as she is still being fitted out and has to conduct up to 2 years of FOC trials anyway, so why not just put it on her to start off with. After all they are going to be the most numerous class of warships RN have and it’s a great opportunity for a possible export to Norway, Canada or Australia.
And although it seems a bit odd to trial a brand new weapon system on a brand new ship it’s exactly what HMS Daring did with PAAMS when she did her FOC Trials.
Any other ideas Folk ?
Hello mate.
Navy Lookout reported on that new “something” that has appeared on a T45, a box either side close to the Phalanx mounting, whatever it is, reportedly a CUAS interceptor. Maybe they install Dragonfire on other vessels if the T45s have that? Or a critical land site with ample electricity?
The QECs seem the most obvious to me.
A major UK naval base installation of a Dragonfire seems a resonable alternative.
As reported recently, the UKs fleet of Frigates and Destroyers is projected to shrink even further resulting in the UK CSG composition to be severely impacted.
Mounting 30mm or new 40mm has been suggested as impractical for crew in action.
Therefore, Dragonfire may well be a serious option on the carriers.
However, how long would it take to install 4(?) Dragonfire, with associated system upgrades, to a single carrier?
We’re on the brink of war they say, yet at the same time they continue to disarm our defences. People have been hung drawn and quartered for treason for doing far less damage.
Effing charlatans the lot of them. Pollard is the worst but that’s not saying much.
Nothing will happen before the next Defence Review, there is zero investment for it. Talk and sod all else.
So good possibility it’s never going happen 🤔
Translation: Dragonfire is getting kicked way off into the outfield
I know I will be labelled a conspiracy theorist or worse. But Labour long term aim is to scrap the armed forces all together. Spend the £60 billion on illegals and welfare. Of course they can’t admit it ; a vote loser. Perhaps we should give Lisa Nandy some credit at least she admitted she wanted the army scrapped !. We are well on the way.
Unfortunately, exactly true.