UK Official Avoids Confirming 2027 Timeline for DragonFire Lasers on Type 45 Destroyers
The UK Government has declined to confirm the 2027 timeline for installing DragonFire laser-directed energy weapons (LDEW) on Royal Navy Type 45 destroyers, despite the timeline being stated in the Defence Investment Plan. In a parliamentary response on 20 July, Defence Minister Luke Pollard confirmed £490m investment in directed energy weapons but avoided directly answering a question about the 2027 installation date, citing exploration of operational environments and lessons from Middle East conflicts. The DragonFire program, initiated in 2017, has survived multiple governments and is planned for four Type 45 destroyers, though integration details remain unclear. The article notes the government's pattern of opaque parliamentary responses and contrasts the minister's evasion with industry statements and the official Defence Investment Plan that still lists the 2027 delivery date.
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