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TechUK's QinetiQ invests £20M in laser weapon tech, unveils HELENA brand
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QinetiQ, a British defence firm, announced a £20 million company-funded investment to accelerate the development and production of high-energy laser directed energy weapon technology. The investment will expand capabilities at its Farnborough and Malvern sites, increasing production capacity for both UK and international markets. At the Farnborough International Airshow, QinetiQ unveiled HELENA, the new brand for its coherent beam combination High Energy Laser Source products, a critical component for laser weapon systems designed to defend against drones and advanced threats. QinetiQ is a key member of the UK's DragonFire consortium alongside MBDA and Leonardo, which is delivering 50-kilowatt-class laser systems to Royal Navy ships from 2027, accelerated by the Ministry of Defence. CEO Steve Wadey emphasized the company's two-decade leadership in directed energy weapons and commitment to meeting growing sovereign and allied demand.
Source report
QinetiQ has announced a £20 million company-funded investment to accelerate the development and production of laser directed energy weapon technology. The announcement was made at the Farnborough International Airshow, where the firm also unveiled a new brand name for its high-energy laser sources. The DragonFire system, to which QinetiQ contributes, is scheduled for deployment on Royal Navy ships from 2027.
Investment Details
The investment will expand development and production capabilities at QinetiQ’s Farnborough and Malvern sites. According to the company, this will:
- Grow the product range
- Significantly increase production capacity for laser weapon systems
- Serve both the UK and international defence markets
HELENA Brand Launch
At the airshow, QinetiQ unveiled HELENA — the new name for its coherent beam combination High Energy Laser Source products. HELENA is the critical component at the heart of any laser weapon system and can be used to defend against drones and other advanced threats.
Executive Comment
“Directed Energy Weapons are quickly moving from development to deployment to change the game in battlefield economics against the drone threat, and QinetiQ has been at the forefront of this technology for two decades,” said Steve Wadey, QinetiQ’s Group Chief Executive, as quoted in the press release. “The investment announced today demonstrates our commitment to accelerating both the development and manufacture of sovereign laser technology, ensuring we can meet the growing demand from the UK and our international allies and provide them with the operational advantage on the battlefield.”
DragonFire Consortium
QinetiQ has more than 25 years of experience in laser weapon technology and remains a key member of the UK’s DragonFire consortium, alongside MBDA and Leonardo. The consortium is delivering laser systems onto Royal Navy ships from 2027 — a programme accelerated by the Ministry of Defence to put the 50-kilowatt-class weapon to sea aboard a Type 45 destroyer years earlier than originally planned.
Within the partnership:
- MBDA leads the overall system
- Leonardo provides the beam director
- QinetiQ supplies the laser source itself (now covered by the HELENA branding), generated by combining multiple fibre laser beams into a single coherent high-energy output
Source
UK Defence JournalWestern
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British firm QinetiQ invests £20 million in laser weapon technology, unveils HELENA brand