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£580 m Porton Down Bio Lab Unveiled, Navy Chooses Drones

6/30/2026

Summary

Story summary

Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis announced a £580 million biological-defence laboratory to be built at Porton Down, Wiltshire.
The facility will be named after former foreign secretary Ernest Bevin, with construction scheduled for four years.
Dstl chief executive Paul Hollinshead said the lab will strengthen UK capacity to stay ahead of biological threats.
The announcement comes as the Royal Navy will scrap six new destroyers in favour of drones and autonomous weapons.

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Story summary

Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis announced a £580 million biological-defence laboratory to be built at Porton Down, Wiltshire.
The facility will be named after former foreign secretary Ernest Bevin, with construction scheduled for four years.
Dstl chief executive Paul Hollinshead said the lab will strengthen UK capacity to stay ahead of biological threats.
The announcement comes as the Royal Navy will scrap six new destroyers in favour of drones and autonomous weapons.