The UK’s Minister of Defence Procurement, Maria Eagle, made important statements regarding her country’s developments in the field of defence technologies. The Minister announced that they are accelerating their work on the DragonFire laser weapon, which they aim to equip Royal Navy destroyers with from 2027. It was also announced that the disruptions in the supply chain related to the upgrade of the Challenger main battle tank and the allocation of additional resources to resolve this issue were affected.
DragonFire Laser Gun: Accelerated Studies
Eagle said the DragonFire laser weapon is due to reach the Navy around five years earlier than expected. This accelerated timeline will strengthen the UK’s defence capabilities and accelerate the development of laser technology. The Minister said the development of the new laser weapon into operational capability will allow the armed forces to make continuous improvements in areas such as integration, software and lethality. DragonFire achieved a major success with a high-powered test fire in 2024, successfully destroying an air target.
The UK government plans to increase defence spending to 2,5% of GDP, an increase that would mean an additional £2027 billion in spending for the 2028-14,2 financial year. Minister Eagle said some of these resources would be used to advance laser weapons technology.
Challenger 3 Tank Upgrade Process and Supply Chain Issues
The UK plans to replace its Challenger tanks with a new version, the Challenger 3. However, supply chain disruptions have delayed these plans. Initial operational capacity is expected to be completed in 2027, with all Challenger 3 tanks in service by 2030. The upgrade is being led by Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land and includes improvements such as new armour, an active protection system and a 120mm smoothbore gun. Eagle noted that there has been no increase in the £1,9bn budget allocated for the upgrade.
Defense Budget and Resources Allocated for New Technologies
In the Spring Statement made in March, it was announced that at least 10% of the Ministry of Defence equipment budget would be spent on innovative areas such as unmanned aerial vehicles and artificial intelligence-supported technologies. It was also stated that a special budget of £400 million would be allocated for the defence innovation fund.
Eagle emphasised that the Challenger 3 tanks will be continually reviewed for performance to ensure they remain world leaders, as part of the UK’s ongoing drive to strengthen its technological and strategic capabilities in defence.
