Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

Pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2026, to question 106072 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, what assessment has he made of the potential impact of the issue raised in the post-exercise report for Exercise Scorpion Cyclone that highlighted concerns that the fuel consumption of the vehicle is 16 litres per hour and is unsustainable for deep recce.

Ajax Vehicle range and fuel consumption continue to be proved through trials and exercises. Data to date supports the vehicle being fit for a deep reconnaissance role.

What is the scope of Project BOYD.

Project BOYD, delivered by the Royal Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, is a series of operational capability demonstrators harnessing AI to transform complex, time consuming and resource intensive command and control planning cycles through machine-speed, data-centric decision making, in order to generate a decision-action cycle that is palpably better than those of our adversaries.

What are the respective projects covering delivery of separate a) land, b) sea, c) air and d) overall joint autonomous collaborative platforms.

As set out in the Strategic Defence Review, we must shift towards a greater use of autonomy and AI to improve our Armed Forces' capability and lethality. Further detail of the projects that will achieve this drive for autonomy in each environment will be included as part of the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan. Projects being developed include, but are not limited to, the Atlantic Bastion series of uncrewed systems operating below, on and above the surface of the sea to defend our nuclear deterrent and secure the Atlantic, and Army's autonomous collaborative platforms designed to work alongside Apache attack helicopters.

What progress has he made in facilitating the flow of analysed imagery from NCGI into the Digital Targeting Web.

The Ministry of Defence is on course to deliver the first elements of the Digital Targeting Web (DTW) later this year which is part of the wider modernisation of targeting, intelligence, and command‑and‑control systems across Defence. Separately from DTW, Defence already has an existing multi‑year contract with Google for Secret‑level cloud hosting and data services. This contract provides secure cloud capability across Defence for at least five years.

With reference to the Written Ministerial Statement on Ajax, published on 22 January 2026, to what extent did departmental submissions not reflect the full breadth of known aggregated safety risk regarding vibration related injuries and historical programme issues.

As I advised in my Written Statement on 22 January 2026, the outcome of the Ministerial review concluded that Departmental submissions were accurate in declaring Ajax as safe to operate. However, it also found Ministers should have been briefed more comprehensively in relation to operational impact and the nuanced risks of operating safely. Importantly, submissions did not reflect the full breadth of known aggregated safety risk, particularly regarding vibration related injuries and historical programme issues.

What is the remit of Task Force Rapstone.

Task Force RAPSTONE is an Army initiative to accelerate the fielding of new capabilities into the British Army, drawing on lessons learned from Ukraine.

What assessment has he made of the potential benefit of developing a secure community cloud as part of the Digital Targeting Web project.

The Ministry of Defence is on course to deliver the first elements of the Digital Targeting Web (DTW) later this year which is part of the wider modernisation of targeting, intelligence, and command‑and‑control systems across Defence. Separately from DTW, Defence already has an existing multi‑year contract with Google for Secret‑level cloud hosting and data services. This contract provides secure cloud capability across Defence for at least five years.

What assessment has he made of the potential merits of procuring Leonardo’s Proteus Rotary Wing Uncrewed Air System to cover capability required by the New Medium Helicopter contract.

The Proteus Rotary Wing Uncrewed Air System has been designed and built to unlock the potential of uncrewed aerial systems, operating them side-by-side with crewed aircraft in a future ‘hybrid air wing’, and supporting future anti-submarine operations under the Atlantic Bastion strategy. The Proteus Technology Demonstrator is being developed by Leonardo under a £60 million programme supporting 100 highly-skilled British jobs. Procurement decisions, including for the New Medium Helicopter contract, will be made in the Defence Investment Plan (DIP). The Department is working flat out to deliver the DIP, which will be published as soon as possible. It is backed by the Government’s largest sustained increase in defence investment since the end of the Cold War, spending £270 billion on defence in this Parliament alone.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2026 to Question 98879 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, how many of each Ajax-platform vehicle has been involved in causing noise and vibration injuries.

The investigation into the safety of the Ajax platform remains ongoing, and as I advised in the Written Statement I made on 22 January 2026, I will provide a further update in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2026 to Question 98879 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, whether any Ajax-platform vehicles been involved in more than one instance of causing noise and vibration sickness.

The investigation into the safety of the Ajax platform remains ongoing, and as I advised in the Written Statement I made on 22 January 2026, I will provide a further update in due course.

Pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2026 to question 105104 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement and with reference to Page 24, Figure 5, footnote 3 of the 2022 National Audit Office report: The Ajax Programme (HC1142), could he clarify whether any Ajax vehicles have been (a) manufactured and (b) assembled in Spain.

The first 100 Ajax vehicles were manufactured in Spain with most of the assembly in Spain. These vehicles were not identified as being related to Question 105104 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement as they are not in service. No units are equipped with the first 100 Ajax-family vehicles manufactured.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2026 to Question 98879 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, how many of each variant are at each Capability Drop standard.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 21 January 2026 to his Question 98879. All vehicles referenced in my response are at Capability Drop 3.

Which units are equipped with the first 100 Ajax-family vehicles manufactured and assembled in Spain.

The first 100 Ajax vehicles were manufactured in Spain with most of the assembly in Spain. These vehicles were not identified as being related to Question 105104 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement as they are not in service. No units are equipped with the first 100 Ajax-family vehicles manufactured.

How much his Department paid to General Dynamics in relation to the delivery of the Armoured Cavalry Programme.

As at 22 January 2026, the Ministry of Defence has paid General Dynamics Land Systems UK £4.664 billion in line with contractual obligations for the Ajax programme.

Pursuant to the corrected answer of 13 January 2026 to question 102957 on Artillery: Procurement, for what reason the original order was reduced to one RCH 155 platform.

The UK is procuring one Early Capability Demonstrator platform as part of the Mobile Fires Platform programme, and the original order remains unchanged. The corrected answer to Question 102957 reflected the rectification of an administrative error which inadvertently stated that two demonstrator platforms had been purchased. The correction was issued to ensure the Parliamentary record accurately reflects the Department’s procurement position.

Pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2026 to question 105586 on Navy: Shipping, is the Patrick Blackett (a) in service with the Royal Navy and (b) a commissioned warship.

The XV Patrick Blackett is an experimental vessel, operating under a Blue Ensign. While it is in service with the Royal Navy to test new technologies, as an experimental vessel it is not a commissioned warship.

Pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2026 to question 105590 on NATO, how many of the six NATO-administered facilities are located within US-run military bases.

One facility—the NATO Intelligence Fusion Centre (NIFC)—is located at RAF Molesworth, a United States Visiting Forces (USVF) base, in Cambridgeshire.

Which Government ministers will be eligible to be called up to the armed forces following proposed changes to eligibility for the strategic reserve.

The Ministry of Defence has not done any such an assessment. It is the personal responsibility of all former Regular Service or current Volunteer Reserve Personnel, including Government Ministers, to determine whether they are affected by the Armed Forces Bill 2026 Reserves measures. Any member of the Regular force or Volunteer Reserve on the day that the regulations come into force will be affected by these measures, though they will have the option to opt-out. Those who have already left the Regulars or Volunteer Reserve or if their liability stemming from Regular Service has now lapsed or they never had one, will not be affected. They will have the option, however, to opt in to the changes.

Pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2026 to question 105582 on Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Decommissioning, what programme does the replacement of Pinzgauer fall under.

The long-term replacement for the Pinzgauer vehicle is being considered within the Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) segment of the Land Mobility Programme. The programme is being considered as part of the Defence Investment Plan.

What was the Capability Drop status of each Ajax-family vehicle within the fleet operated by the Queens Royal Hussars as at 22 November 2025.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 21 January 2026 to his Question 98879. All vehicles referenced in my response are at Capability Drop 3.