The UK speeds up DragonFire laser deployment and tackles Challenger 3 tank upgrade delays, boosting defense tech innovation.

In a written answer to parliamentary questions, Minister for Defence Procurement Maria Eagle stated that the UK is speeding up development of the DragonFire laser weapon, intended to equip four Royal Navy destroyers with the system beginning in 2027.

According to Eagle, delays in the supply chain have affected the plan of the UK to upgrade the Challenger main battle tank. It also stated that more resources are being allocated to address the problems faced during the implementation of the plan.

In March, the British government declared in its Spring Statement that it would establish a ring-fenced budget of £400 million ($516 million) for a defense-innovation fund and allocate at least 10% of the Ministry of Defence equipment budget to emerging technology like drones and AI-enabled capabilities.

In 2027, the British government intends to raise defense expenditures to 2.5 percent of GDP. According to the most recent data from the Office for Budget Responsibility, that would equate to £14.2 billion more spending in the fiscal year 2027–2028 than in 2024–2025, which is more than the £13.4 billion that was announced in February, Eagle said.

According to Eagle, there were significant supply-chain snags in the ongoing plan to replace Britain's primary battle tank with the Challenger 3. All 138 of the United Kingdom's Challenger 3 tanks are expected to be operational by the end of 2030, with the updated tank expected to begin operations in 2027.

Minister for Defence Procurement Maria Eagle responded in writing to parliamentary inquiries that the UK is speeding up development of the DragonFire laser weapon, with plans to equip four Royal Navy destroyers with the system beginning in 2027.

According to Eagle, delays in the supply chain have affected the plan of the UK to upgrade the Challenger main battle tank. It also stated that more resources are being allocated to address the problems faced during the implementation of the plan.

In March, the British government declared in its Spring Statement that it would establish a ring-fenced budget of £400 million ($516 million) for a defense-innovation fund and allocate at least 10% of the Ministry of Defence equipment budget to emerging technology like drones and AI-enabled capabilities.

According to the minister, accelerating DragonFire's operational capacity will enable the military to continuously enhance areas such as software, integration, and overall lethality. According to Eagle, that will guide the development of the system itself and the MoD's decisions about the next directed-energy weapons.

The UK plans to increase defense expenditures to 2.5% of GDP by 2027. According to the Office for Budget Responsibility's data, this expenditure will cost around £14.2 billion which is additional spending in the fiscal year 2027–2028 than in 2024–2025. The Eagle stated that this figure is more than £13.4 billion, which was revealed in February.