‘Drone killer’ radio wave weapon in doubt in Labour defence review
Britain’s new “drone killer” radio wave weapon has been thrown into doubt after Labour cancelled Tory plans to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) had been on the brink of signing a contract for about 15 of the radio frequency directed energy weapons from Thales, the defence company.
The technology, which is still being developed, allows soldiers to fire radio waves to disable enemy electronics and can take down a swarm of drones.
The MoD announced the project in May 2024. Delivery of the weapons was expected in 2026 and Tory ministers wanted to give some to Ukraine to help counter the Russian invasion.
But The Telegraph can reveal the project’s future is now uncertain after the Labour Government scrapped the Tory timeline for increasing defence spending this decade.
Sources familiar with discussions told The Telegraph there was no clarity on when the contract might be signed, with delays looming as Labour conducts a strategic defence review.
The project is just one of many facing question marks after the first switch in governing party for 14 years in Britain, with Labour ministers adjusting to their new briefs this summer.
Rishi Sunak had promised that defence spending would increase to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030, up from around 2.2 per cent currently, citing a more dangerous world in his decision.
Timeline has been abandoned
Sir Keir Starmer has also said 2.5 per cent is his target but abandoned the timeline, meaning it is not known when and how military spending will rise in the years ahead.
The approach has thrown flagship defence projects into doubt. Sir Keir is yet to promise that the next generation fighter jet programme GCAP will go ahead, saying only it is “important”.
The Prime Minister was further pressed on the programme in the Commons on Wednesday, when Mr Sunak, the acting Tory leader, asked if Saudi Arabia would be invited to join the scheme.
The UK is making the jets with Japan and Italy and the Tories had been negotiating to get the Saudis to join, but Sir Keir did not promise they would still be invited in so doubt remains.
Each radio wave weapon is only expected to cost around £10 million, which is relatively small given other military spending figures.
Industry figures have been urging the MoD to approve decisions on smaller pressing projects even if larger ones need wider consideration in the review.
One prototype is being tested
The strategic defence review may not be concluded until summer 2025, but many procurement decisions need to be signed off before the end of the financial year in March 2025.
One prototype radio wave weapon is being tested currently with the British Army.
The plan had been to speed through the next round of development and procurement because of the importance of the new technology, but this is in doubt.
A MoD press release announcing the project in May 2024 was titled “cutting-edge drone killer radio wave weapon developing at pace”. The release called the technology “game-changing”.
James Cartlidge, then Tory minister for defence procurement, had said: “The war in Ukraine has shown us the importance of deploying uncrewed systems, but we must be able to defend against them too.
“As we ramp up our defence spending in the coming years, our Defence Drone Strategy will ensure we are at the forefront of this warfighting evolution.”
Approached for comment, the MoD said: “RFDEW is undergoing extensive testing with the British Army this summer as planned, and development continues for it to be in service with our Armed Forces in the coming years.”