QinetiQ awarded contract for further work on lasers, future systems and energy weapons
DragonFire laser has been developed under WSRF. (Photo: Leonardo)
Notable projects under the Weapons Sector Research Framework (WSRF) contract include the British Army determining the impact of a vehicle-mounted laser weapon on drones and testing a vehicle-mounted Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon (RFDEW).
The UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has awarded QinetiQ a £160 million (US$214 million) to continue work with commercial partners to speed up the development of next generation weapons.
It is an extension of the five-year £300 million WSRF contract awarded in July 2020. It has already seen the development of RFDEW counter-uncrewed aerial system (C-UAS) in partnership with Thales and DragonFire C-UAS and air defence laser which is being developed in cooperation between MBDA and Leonardo UK.
Under the WSRF framework extension, QinetiQ will work with industry partners MBDA and Thales, to provide Dstl and the Ministry
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Land Warfare
-
![Battlefield mobility, made in the UK]()
Battlefield mobility, made in the UK
How does Britain ensure that we can preserve the lives of our soldiers and allies – now and in the future – with homegrown innovation and resilient domestic manufacturing? At Pearson Engineering, we are proud to be a central part of the answer to this increasingly important question.
-
![Hanwha awarded $482 million in major step for South Korea’s missile defence programme]()
Hanwha awarded $482 million in major step for South Korea’s missile defence programme
The deal to produce and supply launchers and missiles to South Korea follows a contract placed with Hanwha Systems last month for the manufacture of multi-function radars.
-
![China goes for ground-launched attack weapons as it strengthens deterrence strategy]()
China goes for ground-launched attack weapons as it strengthens deterrence strategy
China has been advancing its capabilities with a new generation of precision-guided artillery and loitering munitions, positioning ALIT’s WS-series as direct competitors with Western systems like the US’s M982 Excalibur.
-
![Strengthening Baltic defence capabilities]()
Strengthening Baltic defence capabilities
How Latvia is bolstering its territorial defences, industrial capacity and international cooperation with Dynamit Nobel Defence’s SKORPION2 Remote Mining System.
-
![Land forces review: British Army vehicle programme stalls and company results land]()
Land forces review: British Army vehicle programme stalls and company results land
In the first monthly review of land forces stories, the Shephard team looks back to evaluate the major news events that have impacted the sector. The UK’s Land Mobility Programme was notable but another setback occurred when a market industry day was scrapped.
