UK Navy takes aim at drones with £316m laser system

Britain’s defence tech gets a major boost as the Ministry of Defence signs a £316 million contract to equip Royal Navy ships with DragonFire laser weapon systems — capable of hitting a £1 coin from over a kilometre away. We break down what this leap in naval protection means for jobs, defence, and the UK’s future warfare capabilities.

Plus, one of the UK’s largest prostate cancer studies gets underway, aiming to transform diagnosis and reduce harm for thousands of men.

We also speak to Professor Mark Rowlands about why Plymouth has been crowned the happiest place in the UK to be a dog.

Also in this episode:

• UCL scientists identify what triggered a huge ‘earthquake swarm’ near Santorini, detecting magma flows deep beneath the seafloor.
• James Webb Space Telescope spots a supermassive black hole that shouldn’t exist, challenging theories of early-universe formation.
• Cricket 26 launches ahead of the Ashes, with updated squads, stadiums and “Bazball”-inspired modes.
• Google tests Quick Share compatibility with Apple’s AirDrop, hinting at smoother cross-platform file transfers.

For all the latest news, head to standard.co.uk

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