Britain's Ministry of Defence is seeking anti-drone technology capable of protecting troops from saturation attacks designed to overwhelm defenses or deplete ammunition supplies, according to a September 4, 2026 report from The Register. The tender, called Project PANOPTES, offers £5 million ($6.8 million) in initial funding to successful bidders and closes for first-stage submissions at midday on September 23. The accelerated timeline suggests the military considers the capability urgent.
Project PANOPTES aims to deliver an integrated Counter-Uncrewed Aerial System force-protection capability that can operate autonomously, according to the competition document. The system must be mountable on an Army vehicle and capable of detecting, tracking, and defeating low-cost threats without being overwhelmed or rapidly exhausting ammunition. UK Defence Innovation, which is running the tender on behalf of the MoD, has expressed particular interest in capabilities centered on Laser Directed Energy Weapon effectors, though it will consider credible alternatives. The initial focus targets NATO Class 1 uncrewed aerial systems, a category that covers military drones weighing up to 150 kg—including the small battlefield craft used extensively in Ukraine against targets ranging from armored vehicles to individual soldiers. The requirement encompasses single, repeated, sequential, and simultaneous threat profiles, including potential swarm attacks, as well as drones used for disruption or surveillance.
The tender document states that PANOPTES seeks a system that complements existing defenses by addressing threats that could overwhelm current capabilities. According to The Register, the British Army tested anti-drone laser systems roughly two years ago, with soldiers from 16 Royal Artillery firing a 15 kW infrared laser mounted on a Wolfhound armored truck against airborne targets, neutralizing them at distances beyond 1 km. The MoD indicated at the time that those trials were merely a capability demonstration intended to improve understanding of laser technology, but PANOPTES appears to move closer to procuring an operational system. The competition follows two stages: applicants first outline their ideas, after which those behind the most promising submissions will be invited to submit detailed proposals.
Vulnerability to drones has become a major concern for armed forces worldwide, The Register notes, with the MoD's focus on laser technology reflecting the challenge of defending against saturation tactics without exhausting traditional ammunition. The emphasis on autonomous operation addresses the speed and volume of potential swarm attacks, which can outpace human response times. Britain's Royal Navy has also requested ship-based counter-drone systems earlier this year through Project TALON, which envisions combining kinetic projectiles with non-kinetic defenses such as lasers, microwaves, and electronic jamming. Royal Navy ships are already slated to receive the DragonFire laser weapon, with the first system expected to be fitted to a Type 45 destroyer next year, though whether that technology can be adapted for an Army vehicle remains uncertain. The defense sector faces a fundamental choice between consumable interceptors that eventually run out and directed energy systems that promise unlimited magazines but require significant power and thermal management—a trade-off that will shape force protection doctrine for years to come.