Every parliamentary written question tabled by Ben Obese-Jecty this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 501–520 of 2,243 · Ministry of Defence
Whether he has had discussions with representatives from India on the development of the engine for their new Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft.
The Ministry of Defence continues to engage at all levels to support and advance the UK’s bid for the Engine Development Programme for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft. Deepening the UK-India relationship on defence capability is a Prime Minister priority, as outlined by the recently published Defence Industrial Roadmap.
What is the full scope of the Low-Cost Effectors & Autonomous Platforms’ initiative.
The LEAP initiative is another firm signal of European collective commitments, delivering a united front of deterrence against Russia. LEAP will embrace groundbreaking industry innovation to exploit rapidly evolving technology at pace to deliver capabilities to counter threats posed now and in the future. The first focus of LEAP is on a new surface-to-air weapon – lightweight, affordable, and designed to counter mass drone and missile threats. Our innovative approach could see the defined effector designs manufactured from 2027. The aspiration is that LEAP will grow into other key low-cost and autonomous areas in the future.
What progress has he made in exploring the potential of using Australian Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar technologies for the UK.
As part of the Ministry of Defence’s capability delivery process the UK is exploring possibilities, including better understanding of Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) with our allied partners. A series of targeted risk-reduction activities has been agreed with the Australian Government. Any future decisions will be made in accordance with Departmental processes.
What progress he has made on developing cooperation with Australia on directed‑energy weapons.
As part of the UK's ambition to accelerate the development and deployment of Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) we are engaging with key allies who share our mutual aims in this field. For reasons of national security, it would not be appropriate to comment further on the specifics of this cooperation.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the decision of the (a) US Marines to retain the M27 rifle and (b) US Army’s adoption of the M7 on the ability of UK forces to operate with US forces.
The UK and US share evidence on research and experimentation on the development of small arms. Enhancing interoperability with Allies remains an important consideration in any procurement of capability that the Department undertakes. This includes the British Army’s Project GRAYBURN which will deliver the replacement of the L85 rifle. The project is considering different calibres as part of wider interoperability considerations.
What is the delivery timeline for the (a) 61 M270 MLRS launchers and (b) eight Repair and Recovery vehicles.
The Multiple Launch Rocket Systems launchers and Repair and Recovery Vehicles (RRVs) are on contract to be upgraded to the A2 standard. Two launchers have now been delivered to the UK and a further 13 launchers and two RRVs are currently on the production line for delivery in 2026. The whole MLRS fleet is being upgraded in four tranches with the final deliveries estimated to be complete by 2029.
What progress he has made in upgrading the M270B1 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems to A2 standard.
The Multiple Launch Rocket Systems launchers and Repair and Recovery Vehicles (RRVs) are on contract to be upgraded to the A2 standard. Two launchers have now been delivered to the UK and a further 13 launchers and two RRVs are currently on the production line for delivery in 2026. The whole MLRS fleet is being upgraded in four tranches with the final deliveries estimated to be complete by 2029.
How many armed forces personnel have qualified for the operational allowance each year since its introduction.
It is taking time to collate the required information to answer the hon. Member's Question. I will write to him when the information is available, and a copy of this letter will be placed in the Library of The House.
If he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of China's no first use nuclear strike policy.
The UK’s nuclear policy, most recently outlined in the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, remains unchanged. The UK does not believe China’s No First Use policy is credible. It is extremely unlikely that in extreme circumstances a state in possession of nuclear weapons would not be willing to use them. China continues to expand and diversify its nuclear arsenal and fails to explain the rationale and intent behind its modernisation and how this aligns with its doctrine.
Which units form the UK's contribution to the NATO Allied Reaction Force Special Operations Component.
The United Kingdom will assume leadership of NATO’s Allied Reaction Force (ARF) Special Operations Component from July 2026 to June 2027. As part of this commitment, the UK is providing the Special Operations Component Command headquarters, responsible for commanding multinational Special Operations task groups held at high readiness for NATO collective defence and crisis response tasks. UK contributions to the ARF Special Operations Forces element principally comprise personnel drawn from the Royal Marines Commando Force, the Ranger Regiment and supporting Royal Air Force elements, forming maritime, land and air Special Operations Task Groups under NATO command. These forces will operate alongside contributions from Allied nations as part of the multinational ARF framework.
How much is projected a) overall and b) core spending on defence in i) 2025/26, ii) 2026/27 and iii) 2027/28.
The Department does not routinely publish forecast figures. The Government is committed to defence spending reaching 2.6% of GDP in 2027 and is on track to do so.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the use of RAF Fairford by the United States Air Force to launch offensive military action on UK security.
The United States requested permission to use British bases for the limited, defensive purpose of preventing Iranian missiles from killing civilians, British nationals, or our allies in countries that played no part in the initial strike. Permissions to utilise UK military bases are considered on a case-by-case basis and the decision to grant permission is dependant on the nature and purpose of their activity.
What the scope is of the UK's participation in Project Convergence.
Project Convergence is a series of multinational experiments led by the United States Army Futures Command to test, integrate, and evaluate emerging technologies that enable faster, data driven decision making across domains. The United Kingdom participates in Project Convergence as part of its long-standing cooperation with the United States Army on future force development, experimentation, and interoperability. The British Army’s participation ensures that it remains interoperable, digitally connected and prepared for the future demands of conflict.
What the terms of reference are for the Ministerial-led review of the Ajax Programme.
As you will be aware, I released a written Ministerial Statement in the House on 22 January 2026 in which I provided an update to Parliament on the British Army’s Armoured Cavalry Programme (commonly known as Ajax) and the findings of the Ministerial review which has now concluded. It would not be appropriate to release any further specific details than those contained in my previous statement.
What progress has he made in developing an airborne electromagnetic attack capability running proven counter-C5ISRT software, including third-party software applications.
I welcome innovation across the Defence industrial sector. The Ministry of Defence is aware of the importance of the Electromagnetic battlespace and is pursuing a number of options, both in the near-term and in the research and development programme, to address military needs.
How much was a) overall and b) core spending on defence in each of the last ten years.
The UK's defence spending is reported to and published by NATO. The figures requested can be found online: https://www.nato.int/content/dam/nato/webready/documents/finance/def-exp-2025-en.pdf
Whether he has had recent discussions with (a) the Prime Minister, (b) Cabinet colleagues, (c) senior civil servants and (d) the Attorney General on the legality of authorising the United States to launch offensive military operations from RAF Fairford.
UK bases were not involved in the initial strikes on Iran. Permissions to utilise UK military bases are considered on a case-by-case basis and the decision to grant permission is dependent on the nature and purpose of their activity.
What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the flight testing performance of the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Collaborative Combat Aircraft YFQ-42A Dark Merlin.
The RAF continues to monitor the development of the global collaborative combat air market and develop advanced capabilities to augment crewed combat air as part of the Future force mix that will deliver control of the air for the UK.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of levels of (a) workforce skills, (b) industrial capacity and (c) sustainment of specialist manufacturing expertise on the effective delivery of Project GRAYBURN.
Project GRAYBURN is in the formal concept phase and therefore the scope, timeline and complexity are yet to be determined. Project GRAYBURN will deliver against the Defence Industrial Strategy and our strategic partnership with industry will generate new long-term skilled jobs, including in STEM, and increase our industrial capacity and resilience.
What is the full scope of the bilateral Nuclear-Powered Submarine Partnership and Collaboration Treaty regarding the a) design, b) build, c) operation, d) sustainment and e) disposal of SSN-AUKUS submarines.
The Government is fully committed to AUKUS. The Nuclear-Powered Submarine Partnership and Collaboration Treaty is a key part of this partnership and will enable comprehensive cooperation between the UK and Australia on the design, build, operation, sustainment, and disposal of our SSN-AUKUS submarines. This includes port visits, and notably HMS ANSON has recently arrived in Perth, Australia – a major milestone that will see Australian personnel conducting maintenance on the Astute Class submarine. The text of the treaty can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68b1814ecc8356c3c882a8dc/CS_Australia_2.2025_Nuclear_Powered_Submarine_Partnership_Agreement.pdf