British firm pumping cash into new Laser weapon tech

QinetiQ is investing £20m to accelerate development and production of high-energy laser technology, unveiling its HELENA laser source brand at Farnborough.

Farnborough opens with £36.2 billion in aircraft deals

Day one of the Farnborough International Airshow generated more than £36.2bn in commercial aircraft deals, according to ADS, with 234 firm aircraft orders placed, up 44% on the opening day of the previous show.
Unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) in flight against a cloudy sky with a gray fuselage and two large propellers.

Raytheon pitches Red Kite weapon at RAF stockpile gap

Raytheon UK has unveiled Red Kite, designed and digitally engineered in Britain, built on the StormBreaker airframe and aimed at strengthening RAF stockpile resilience.
Unmanned military drone in flight with an orange sunset sky behind it.

Stealth strike missile heading for MQ-9B drone family

GA-ASI and Kongsberg have passed the first design reviews for putting the stealthy Joint Strike Missile on the MQ-9B.
Front view of a futuristic dual-rotor aircraft with two large glowing green circular rotors, parked in a dark hangar.

Anduril unveils armed drone gunship to fly with Apaches

Anduril has unveiled Thunder, a robotic gunship to fly alongside Apaches, carrying ten Hellfire-class missiles or 76 rockets, with first flight planned for 2027. #FIA2026

RAF Protector cleared to carry Paveway IV and Brimstone

Weapons testing for the RAF's Protector is complete, with the Paveway IV bomb and Brimstone 3 missile qualified for the drone after a six-year UK-US effort.

New Chinook buy to wait for 2030 defence review

The contract for the next tranche of Chinooks will be committed through the Strategic Defence Review 2030, Lord Coaker has confirmed.
Three RAF flying-wing aircraft in formation above a winding fjord and rugged mountains in the distance.

Storm Fighter drones to provide UK air and missile defence

Collaborative Combat Aircraft are expected to play a key role in Integrated Air and Missile Defence through the 2030s, the MoD has said.
Military mobile missile system on a truck with multiple vertical launch tubes, in a dry open area under a cloudy sky.

Sky Sabre doubling on track with deliveries from late 2026

The Army's Sky Sabre air defence force will double under a £350m investment, with Minister Luke Pollard adding that the programme is considering further enhancements to Sky Sabre capability beyond the doubling.

Bulk of £5.4bn Typhoon spend is maintenance and radar

£4.3bn of the Typhoon funding in the Defence Investment Plan covers routine maintenance and previously agreed radar upgrades, the MoD has confirmed, with the separate £1.1bn funding the extensive upgrade work to come.