UK military awards £30m contract to develop laser weapons

MoD contract aims to have army and navy using technology by mid-2020s and air force by mid-2030s

The prospect of UK forces being armed with laser weapons has taken a step closer to reality with the awarding of a 30m Ministry of Defence contract.

The deal, announced on Thursday, is to assess the potential of the laser as a weapon, with the aim of having a product in place by the mid-2020s.