A new world-leading defence laboratory is to be built at Porton Down as part of £580 million of infrastructure funding for the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.
The funding will be provided over the next four years and will support new facilities, including a laboratory to expand work on biological threats.
The Ministry of Defence said the investment will support expert scientists working on advanced defence technologies and help maintain the UK’s position in defence and security research.
 |
Get weekly jobs and transition advice. Unsubscribe anytime. |
The new laboratory will be named after Ernest Bevin, the former British Foreign Secretary and one of the founders of NATO.
Dstl, which is based at Porton Down, carries out research into new science and technology for defence.
In 2018, the site analysed samples of the military-grade Novichok nerve agent used by Russia in the Salisbury attack.
The MOD said the funding has been allocated as part of the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan.
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis MBE MP said: “Our scientists and experts working at Dstl do so much, often unseen, to keep our country and our allies safe at this increasingly dangerous and unpredictable time.
“The £580 million investment will create the facilities needed at Porton Down to expand their vital work, delivering for our Armed Forces and our national security.”
Dstl has led defence science and technology research for the past 25 years, working across areas including artificial intelligence, underwater systems and battlefield decision-making.
Its work has included technology used by the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers and F-35 Lightning fighter jets, as well as the DragonFire high-energy laser weapon.
The organisation has also supported drone technology for Ukraine and operations overseas.
Paul Hollinshead, chief executive of Dstl, said: “This investment reinforces the essential work delivered daily by Dstl to protect the UK Armed Forces and defend the nation.
“As part of a broader infrastructure programme at Dstl, this new laboratory will strengthen our capacity to stay ahead of evolving biological threats and maintain the UK’s leading edge in defence and security.”
The Government has also ringfenced £1.6 billion by 2030 for the UK Defence Innovation fund.
The MOD said the fund is intended to accelerate innovation, strengthen security and grow UK defence technology.
UK Defence Innovation funding helped support Proteus, the UK’s first fully autonomous full-sized helicopter, which is expected to support the Royal Navy’s anti-submarine warfare work.
