The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is calling on proposals for the delivery of laser weapons on vehicles, capable of taking down drones from over one kilometre away. In its Preliminary Market Engagement Notice, 13th June 2025, the MOD said that it hopes to understand “the current maturity in the application of Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) technology” to tackle the rising threat from small uncrewed air systems.
The programme is led by Defence Equipment and Support. Specific expectations for suppliers are outlined by the notice. This includes “LDEW system (effector, power, cooling, sensor) to destroy small UAS at ranges of 1km+” with an “availability to deliver within 12 months ideally.” The laser weapons systems are also required to be “hosted on a land vehicle platform,” and include “UK system content to be declared – 50% by value and above expected.”
A combined £20 million is available for multiple systems. The government also says it welcomes “collaboration between industry partners to form a solution.” The capability of their systems would need to be demonstrated by suppliers in live conditions. “Testing range/facilities to be provided by government, as a demonstration of systems would be required as part of any procurement,” the MOD says.
“The description is deliberately high level and outcome based, so as not to unduly limit the use cases or technologies to which responses might refer,” it adds, hoping to “understand the current maturity, performance, cost, and availability of LDEW systems to be operated in counter UAS roles.”
The MOD hopes to hold one-to-one sessions with potential suppliers between 16th June and 11th July, with contracts, if awarded, running from 1st August 2025 until 31st March 2026.
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