UK military wants lasers to stop drone swarms without running out of ammo
Project PANOPTES puts £5M on the table for an autonomous, vehicle-mounted defense
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is searching for an anti-drone technology to shield troops from overwhelming drone swarms that could deplete their ammunition. The competition, Project PANOPTES, is being run by UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) for the MoD, with £5 million available to the winning bidder. PANOPTES aims to create an autonomous Counter-Uncrewed Aerial System (C-UAS) force-protection capability, capable of detecting, tracking, and neutralizing low-cost drone threats.
The MoD is particularly interested in Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) effectors, though it is open to other viable alternatives. The focus is on NATO Class 1 uncrewed aerial systems, primarily military drones weighing up to 150 kg, including those used in the Ukraine conflict. The requirement includes single, repeated, sequential, and simultaneous threat profiles, as well as drones used for disruption or surveillance.
The MoD previously tested anti-drone laser systems with the 16 Royal Artillery, but these trials were considered demonstrations. PANOPTES is divided into two stages: initial submissions and detailed proposals for the most promising ideas.
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