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The government has committed £580 million to upgrade the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory's facilities at Porton Down, including building a new laboratory dedicated to biological threat research. The announcement, made on 29 June 2026, forms part of the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan.
The new facility will be named after Ernest Bevin, the former British Foreign Secretary who served under Clement Attlee and was one of the founding figures behind NATO. No completion date has been given beyond the four year funding window.
At a glance
- Funding: £580 million for Dstl infrastructure over four years, part of the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan
- New lab: A purpose built laboratory at Porton Down, named after Ernest Bevin, to expand work on biological threats
- Dstl's track record: Analysed the Novichok nerve agent used in the 2018 Salisbury attack, trialled the DragonFire laser weapon, and supplied drone technology to Ukraine
- UKDI fund: A separate £1.6 billion UK Defence Innovation fund has been ringfenced to 2030 for accelerating defence technology
- Proteus: UKDI funding delivered the UK's first fully autonomous full sized helicopter, which will support Royal Navy anti submarine warfare
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory has operated for 25 years from its main site at Porton Down in Wiltshire. Its work covers a broad range of disciplines, artificial intelligence, underwater systems, chemical and biological analysis, and advanced weapons technology.
It came to wide public attention in 2018 when scientists at Porton Down analysed samples of the Novichok military grade nerve agent used in the attempted murder of Sergei Skripal in Salisbury. More recently, Dstl has trialled DragonFire, the UK's first operational high energy laser weapon, and has contributed drone technology to support Ukrainian forces.
Much of Dstl's day to day work remains classified. The organisation sits within the Ministry of Defence and reports to Defence Ministers.
The Ernest Bevin Laboratory, once built, will expand Dstl's capacity to research and respond to biological threats. The government has not published detailed specifications for the facility, nor a construction timeline beyond confirming the work falls within the four year funding window.
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis MBE MP said the investment would "create the facilities needed at Porton Down to expand their vital work, delivering for our Armed Forces and our national security."
Dstl Chief Executive Paul Hollinshead said it would "strengthen our capacity to stay ahead of evolving biological threats and maintain the UK's leading edge in defence and security."
The £580 million sits alongside a separately announced £1.6 billion UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) fund, ringfenced to 2030. The government says UKDI is designed to accelerate innovation and grow domestic defence technology capability.
One project already completed under UKDI is Proteus, described as the UK's first fully autonomous full sized helicopter. It is expected to support the Royal Navy's anti submarine warfare operations.
The full Defence Investment Plan, which will bring together these and other funding commitments, has not yet been published. The government has said it will be released ahead of the NATO Summit.
Key Takeaways
- £580 million has been allocated to Dstl infrastructure over four years as part of the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan
- A new laboratory at Porton Down, named after Ernest Bevin, will expand the UK's capability to research and respond to biological threats
- Dstl is known for the Salisbury Novichok analysis, the DragonFire laser weapon trial, and drone technology support for Ukraine
- A separate £1.6 billion UK Defence Innovation fund is ringfenced to 2030 and has already delivered Proteus, the UK's first fully autonomous full sized helicopter
- The full Defence Investment Plan has not yet been published and is expected ahead of the NATO Summit