Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

By when will all current Ajax-family vehicles be brought up to Drop 3 standard.

All current Ajax-family vehicles will be at CD3 standard by October 2028.

What is the remit of the fleet experimental squadron.

Information on the remit of fleet experimental squadron can be found here: https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2025/april/29/20250430-creation-of-dcto.

Pursuant to the answer of 28 January 2026 to answer 107227 on Challenger Tanks: Exports, what progress he has made in exploring export opportunities for Challenger 3 and its capabilities.

The Department continues to explore opportunities for the export of Challenger 3 capabilities with significant progress made to date. Providing further detail at this time would compromise commercial sensitivities.

For what reason has he cancelled the contract with NP Aerospace to provide x-ray scanners for Army bomb disposal units.

The contract was terminated following careful consideration and agreement from key internal stakeholders as the best value for money way forward for the Army. The termination does not create a capability gap as an interim solution is already in place.

When he plans to start the Ajax’s Capability Drop 4 standard Reliability Growth Trials.

It would not be appropriate to release a complete list of criteria as it could, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability of our Armed Forces. Additionally, I will await the findings of the current investigations before making a further decision the future of Ajax.

What additional capabilities will be included in Ajax Capability Drop 4 over Drop 3.

It would not be appropriate to release a complete list of criteria as it could, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability of our Armed Forces. Additionally, I will await the findings of the current investigations before making a further decision the future of Ajax.

What is the remit of the Wildcat Maritime Force Operational Advantage Group.

The Wildcat Maritime Force Operational Advantage Group was set up in 2023 to maximise the lethality of the Royal Navy’s Wildcat Maritime Attack Helicopter. Using rapid development principles, it focuses on development of capability, tactics, and procedures to enhance warfighting capability.

If the Ajax Programme is within the scope of the Defence Growth Deal for Wales announced in September 2025.

No, the AJAX Programme is outside the scope of the Defence Growth Deal for Wales. The aim of the Defence Growth Deal is to drive growth in Wales through connection, resilience, and collaboration. Centred around Autonomy, evolving a skilled workforce, enhancing sovereign capability, connecting companies to the defence sector across the rest of the UK and the world.

What steps he is taking to improve the Royal Navy’s targeting decision cycle, including through the Navy AI Cell.

Subject to the Defence Investment Plan, the Royal Navy intends to use digital systems, data tools, and structures that allow maritime forces to contribute to a Digital Targeting Web that is effective across different domains and integrates with NATO allies.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of integration between Project Asgard and Project Boyd.

The Strategic Defence Review outlined how the Armed Forces must complete the journey from a joint force to an Integrated Force underpinned by a common digital foundation and shared data. Project BOYD and Project ASGARD represent the Royal Air Force (RAF) and British Army’s respective contributions to this endeavour. While Project BOYD is led by the RAF’s Rapid Capabilities Office and Project ASGARD from the Army’s Information Directorate, both fall under the effort to establish the digital targeting web to connect ‘sensors’, ‘deciders’ and ‘effectors’ which will be implemented across all domains by the Integrated Force model. Learning captured by Project ASGARD and Project BOYD will be shared by both teams to inform future acquisition decisions.

What is the remit of the Royal Navy’s Disruptive Capabilities and Technologies Office.

I refer the hon. Member to the response given to Question 105587 on 21 January 2026.

What is the scope of the Royal Navy’s Develop Directorate.

The Royal Navy’s Develop Directorate leads the development of future warfighting capability and acts as the Design Authority for naval capabilities of the future. It seeks to achieve the optimum mix of present and future warfighting technologies required for a modern, global and ready Royal Navy.​

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Atlantic series deployments on deterring Russia’s Northern Fleet from deploying.

Through the First Sea Lords’ Warfighting Ready Plan, the Royal Navy is transforming to a Hybrid Navy, where crewed, uncrewed and autonomous capabilities are operating together to enhance our warfighting readiness. The Hybrid Navy is our response to maintaining comparative operational advantage over our adversaries. Atlantic Bastion is our concept for assuring our nuclear deterrent, protecting our critical underwater infrastructure and denying sea control to our adversaries. Atlantic Shield will deal with adversarial threats, followed by Atlantic Strike, which will take the fight to the enemy by sea, air or land.

What requirements changes have the Army made to the Early Capability Demonstrator platform as part of the Mobile Fires Platform programme.

The Early Capability Demonstrator platform provides the common design baseline and technical specification for both the UK and Germany. The UK has not added any additional requirements changes.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2026 to Question 107813 on Army, what new capabilities )a) have and (b) are in the process of being fielded to the Army via Task Force Rapstone.

RAPSTONE is an Army initiative to accelerate the fielding of new capabilities into the British Army. These include: - Tactical uncrewed airborne systems (UAS) – short and medium range tactical drones.- Systems to detect, track and counter UAS at the tactical level.- Medium range loitering munitions.- Uncrewed ground vehicles for last-mile resupply of tactical units.- Electronic warfare (EW) systems for specialist and generalist users.- Dispersed digital sensor systems to enhance the intelligence capability of tactical units.- Enhanced counter UAS protection for vehicles.- Utility vehicles for tactical units (4x4 pick-ups and vans).- Hybrid power supplies for tactical headquarters and deployed teams.- Personal individual power packs.- Digital tools for tactical logistic planning and enhanced deployed maintenance.- Enhanced digital tools for fire control.- Increased satellite communications capabilities for mobile tactical units.- Develop dried blood plasma technology into a deployable medical capability. I am unable to provide greater detail on the individual capabilities listed due to Operational sensitivities.

What assessment his Department's Defence AI and Autonomy Unit has made of the potential role of AI within the targeting decision cycle.

The Ministry of Defence recognises that AI has the potential to enhance multiple stages of the targeting decision cycle by improving the speed, accuracy and consistency with which information can be processed. AI, as a general‑purpose enabling technology, can support better‑informed and faster decision‑making while maintaining full compliance with the UK’s legal and ethical obligations. The Department is clear that the incorporation of AI into the targeting process does not diminish the requirement for robust human judgement. Any system used in support of targeting requires context‑appropriate human involvement, and human responsibility and accountability for decisions on the use of force cannot be delegated to machines.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of adopting the US military’s business operators for national defence scheme.

The Ministry of Defence has no plans to recruit a dedicated cadre of former defence industry executives. Nevertheless, the Department is conscious of the value that those with private sector experience can bring. This can be seen in the appointment in October last year of Rupert Pearce as the UK National Armaments Director (NAD), bringing over 40 years of experience across law, technology, telecommunications, energy, and venture capital. His track record of managing large-scale organisations, driving innovation and building international partnerships make him ideally suited to lead the transformation of how defence works with industry to deliver for the UK Armed Forces. The commitment to recruiting individuals with a breadth of experience can also be seen in the current competition for a new Director General UK Defence Innovation, in which the Department is accepting applications from both within and outside the Civil Service.

Pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2026, to question 107516 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, how much remains to be paid to General Dynamics under contractual obligations for the Ajax programme; and in how many instalments.

I am unable to publish the details of the General Dynamics Land Systems UK milestone payment plan as this may prejudice my Department's commercial interests.

Pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2026, to question 107516 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, what the next milestone is in the Ajax programme that will trigger a payment as part of contractual obligations.

There is £1.1bn remaining to be paid to General Dynamics Land Systems UK in line with contractual obligations. I am unable to publish the details of the milestone payment plan as this may prejudice my Department's commercial interests.

Pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2026 to question 106285 on Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Decommissioning, what progress he has made on procuring a CBRN capable replacement for the Fuchs CBRN platform.

Options to replace the Fuchs vehicle are being explored as part of the Land Mobility Programme, within the Heavy Protected Mobility sub-programme.The Heavy Protected Mobility sub-programme is in its Concept Phase and is currently evaluating the Finnish led Common Armoured Vehicles System (CAVS) Programme's suitability in meeting UK's Heavy Protected Mobility requirements. All decisions are subject to the outcome of the Defence Investment Plan.