Futuristic laser weapon to be developed for use by British forces

The US Navy has already unveiled a laser cannon capable of shooting down drones and disabling vessels
The futuristic "energy" cannon is set to be created under a £30m deal being finalised by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

It forms the first part of a programme aimed at showing how pioneering technology, once confined to the pages of science fiction, can be exploited by the military in future.

The agreement would see missile manufacturer MBDA UK build a "capability demonstrator" for a "laser-directed energy weapon", with a one-off prototype delivered by 2019.

The Stevenage-based defence firm will examine how the system could be used to acquire and track targets in different weather conditions over both land and sea, with enough accuracy to enable "safe and effective engagement".

The MoD said that it could be used alongside existing weapons systems - or replace them entirely - with "significant benefits" for UK forces, such as protecting ships from missile attack or soldiers from enemy mortars.

The announcement came as the Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon launched his department's Innovation Fund, which will provide £800m over the decade to encourage hi-tech firms to develop new "disruptive capabilities" for the armed forces.

Sir Michael said while the MoD would previously have developed such systems itself, it would look increasingly to the private sector particularly small and medium businesses.

He said: "It's a way of 'pump-priming' industry and directing investment to focus on the capability of the future.

"All sophisticated western militaries are having to respond to technological change. In the past, when the MoD needed to respond to challenges presented to us, we did. So this is not business as usual.

"We must fundamentally change how we go about our business blending innovation, imagination, ingenuity and entrepreneurship, in pursuit of maintaining a military advantage in the future."

The world's militaries have been increasingly looking to laser technology as part of their weapons of the future.

In recent years, the US Navy unveiled a laser cannon capable of shooting down drones and disabling vessels.

The American defence giant Lockheed Martin has also developed a laser that can knock out the engine of a small truck from more than a mile away.