Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

What progress he has made on developing the Royal Navy’s Force Threat Evaluation and Weapon Assignment functionality enabled by Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning.

Force-Level Target Evaluation and Weapon Assignment (FTEWA) is a central part of the Royal Navy’s pivot to a Hybrid Navy, being developed under the Future Air Dominance System (FADS) programme. By networking our mix of crewed and uncrewed platforms together we will be able to use the optimum weapon from across the networked force to deal with each threat. Machine Learning, and eventually full AI, will be a key part of this functionality and be used in the generation of a single force level situational awareness view, the generation of a threat evaluation list and the recommendation of the optimum weapon to deal with each threat. This will allow operators to make the best decision in time to deal with each threat. FTEWA is in concept phase with the various building blocks described above being developed in parallel.

How many days were lost to sickness absence by civil servants in their Department (a) in total and (b) on average per employee between 5 July 2024 and 4 July 2025.

Between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025, a total of 360,823 working days were lost to sickness absence across the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) civilian workforce, an average of 6.65 days per employee. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA)’s data is collected separately. For the RFA in this period, a total of 18,338.5 24-hour days were lost to sickness absence, an average of 11 days per employee. MOD civil servant sickness absence statistics are published by the Cabinet Office on an annual basis at the following link: www.gov.uk/government/collections/sickness-absence

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the United States Navy’s Modular Autonomous Surface Craft programme on future (a) Royal Navy fleet operations and (b) US Navy interoperability.

The Royal Navy is working at pace to understand the implications of the Modular Autonomous Surface Craft programme. The developing plan indicates that the Future Navy will require a mixed force of crewed and uncrewed vessels, and distributed commando teams, each carrying modular, reconfigurable technology to defeat threats above, on, and beneath the waves and ashore.The Royal Navy and US Navy have a close working relationship within the 'Delivering Combined Seapower' framework and these close links ensure that both forces continue to progress their improved interoperability. Our combined work on NATO capability initiatives likewise ensures future interoperability with other Allied Navies.

What progress he has made on launching new defence growth deals.

New Defence Growth Deals were announced on 8 September 2025 in Plymouth, South Yorkshire, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Working in collaboration with devolved and local Governments, academia and industry, these Deals will bolster regional growth and our national security.

What the scope is of Project CORVUS.

Project CORVUS will procure a new Tactical Uncrewed Air System (TUAS) to deliver the Land Tactical Deep Find (LTDF) capability, essential to enable the Army’s Recce-Strike complex for the Divisional and Corps battles. It will deliver the replacement for the Watchkeeper TUAS and will be fielded by 47 Regiment Royal Artillery. CORVUS will be integrated into the Land ISTAR digital ecosystem and will distribute information to headquarters and artillery fire units via ZODIAC. This will speed up processing times and the Sensor-Decider-Effector chain to greatly enhance the lethality of Land forces.

What progress the Royal Navy has made on Sea Viper Evolution.

Both Sea Viper Evolution Programmes continue to make progress. Capability One, the Royal Navy’s entry level Ballistic Missile Defence Capability, is expected to provide an initial capability from 2027. Capability Two, providing theatre level Ballistic Missile Defence, remains in the Assessment phase to inform future capability and investment choices.

What estimate he has made of the projected contribution of the Tempest Global Combat Air Programme to GDP.

The primary contribution of Defence to GDP is peace and security. There is no sustainable growth without peace, but the contribution GCAP makes to UK peace and security is not amenable to quantitative assessment. GCAP and the wider Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme provide a key element of the UK’s future defence posture. There are over 4,500 people working on the FCAS programme, with GCAP at its core, across the UK. The government is investing over £3 billion and industry has invested over £700 million to co-fund research and development, grow our world-class STEM skills, and develop new digital and industrial capabilities, supporting economic growth.

What steps he has taken to develop the Defence industrial base in order to rapidly scale lower-value and highly attritable autonomous collaborative platforms.

The Ministry of Defence is advancing the defence industrial base for autonomous collaborative platforms through initiatives like the Defence Industrial Strategy, Defence Tech Scaler, and strengthened industry partnerships.Clear strategies, including the RAF Autonomous Collaborative Platforms Strategy and Defence Drone Strategy, set standards, while projects like BriteStorm and StormShroud showcase progress.

What the outcome was of the recent trial by HMS Trent of the Helicopter Visual Landing Aid System.

The recent trials of the Helicopter Visual Landing Aid System (HVLAS) onboard HMS Trent was a success. Three days of rigorous testing through day and night landings by a Wildcat Helicopter has shown the technology to be effective. As a result, we plan to fit HMS Spey, another Batch 2 Offshore Patrol Vessel, with HVALS as she enters scheduled refit.

What was included within the air defence export deal with Poland.

Four air defence contracts have been signed with Poland. The four contracts, MALAN, PILICA+, MIECZNIK and NAREW were signed between 2022 - 2024 with a collective value in excessive of £6 billion and include the roll out of British ground and sea-based air defence systems across Poland. The systems include MBDA’s Common Anti-Air Modular Missiles (CAMM) and associated launchers. These contracts are the largest commercial agreements ever secured between the UK and Poland and will sustain hundreds of jobs at MBDA UK sites in Bristol, Bolton and Stevenage, and also in Poland. Importantly, the contracts also underpin the creation of a cooperative partnership between the UK and Poland to support the development of greater air defence and industrial capability in the UK and Poland, further increasing regional security and greater supply chain flexibility.

What progress his Department has made on developing an open-architecture app based combat management system interoperable across (a) the Army, (b) the Royal Navy, (c) the RAF and (d) UK Space Command.

There are several initiatives across Defence that relate to the development of Combat Management System (CMS). Examples of these initiatives are in ASGARD (Army), NEXUS (RAF) and the Digital Targeting Web (DTW - CSOC), though it is worth noting that each has developed and experimented with capabilities that fit specific uses cases that may not be aligned. Defence Digital have had stakeholder input in several of these but have not been solely responsible for any singular app development. Defence Digital is however, responsible for the Digital Backbone, accelerating military and business capabilities, delivering a resilient, multi-classification foundation of seamlessly integrated capabilities. It encourages reusability and enables easy access to data, all of which are managed, supported and battle ready. The mandating of architecture standards to industry and developers across Defence through digital.mod.uk ensures that any apps and services that are leveraged by the Digital Backbone can be integrated and interoperable across those that consume Backbone services.

What the scope is of Project RECODE.

Project RECODE (Real Time Combat System Open Data Enablers) is a programme to maintain and modernise vital combat management systems and their shared infrastructure and networks, on Royal Navy (RN) vessels including Type 23 frigates, Type 45 destroyers, Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers and Type 26 frigates. Combat management systems are the primary method for RN operators to interact with weapons and sensors and they support functions such as Situation Awareness, Tactical Picture Compilation, Threat Evaluation and Weapon Assignment and Navigation.

What progress the Royal Navy has made on developing the Common Anti-air Modular Missile.

The Common Anti-Air Modular Missile continues to be a cornerstone of Air Defence for both the Royal Navy and the British Army. It remains in service on Type 23 Frigates, with programmes commenced to allow operation on Type 45, Type 26 and Type 31 platforms. Software developments have continued to improve missile performance since its introduction in 2017. A mid-life refresh programme is due to start in 2029 to extend the munitions’ availability to both Services until the late 2040s.

What progress the Royal Navy has made on developing Maritime Integrated Air and Missile Defence and Strike capability.

Progress has been made through enhancements to Air and Missile Defence and Strike capabilities for the Royal Navy (RN) of today, the effectiveness of which have been demonstrated on operations. These include the fielding of the Naval Strike Missile, Combat Management System upgrades under Project RECODE and continued progress in Laser Directed Energy Weapons. Looking ahead, the Future Air Dominance System (FADS) is a transformative multi-domain Royal Navy programme that will provide Maritime Integrated Air and Missile Defence against the toughest of threats in the air and space domain, and Long-Range Precision Strike against the most difficult targets in air, land, and maritime domains. Work is continuing at pace to identify a preferred approach for the FADS with the RN and teams across defence working together on the operational problem statement and potential architectural solutions.

How many Commonwealth service-leavers have paid for visa applications for dependents since 5 July 2024.

All applications are submitted to the Home Office. The Ministry of Defence does not hold information about the number of applications submitted by Service personnel on discharge, or by their family members.

What the Royal Navy’s Mine Hunting Capability Block 1 operational capability is.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer gived on 23 July 2025 to Question 68744 to the hon. Member for Romford (Mr Rosindell).https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-07-17/68744

Whether any defence operational developments are eligible for fast-track planning as nationally important Crown Developments in Huntingdon constituency.

There are currently two projects potentially eligible for fast-track planning as nationally important Crown Developments in Huntingdon constituency.

What the scope is of Project TELUM.

Project TELUM aims to deliver the successor capability to the services currently provided under the Light Aircraft Flying Task 2 (LAFT2) contract, which is set to expire in March 2030. The LAFT2 contract supports a range of services and flying tasks for Air Cadets, University Air Squadrons, the Royal Navy, the Army, and ad hoc flying training requirements, all of which will be addressed by Project TELUM.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2025 to Question 69515 on Typhoon Aircraft: Decommissioning, what roles the four Tranche 1 Typhoons are conducting.

1435 Flight flies the four Tranche 1 Typhoon FGR4 at Mount Pleasant complex. The unit provides air defence and Quick Reaction Alert in the South Atlantic Islands.

With reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what progress he has made on re-establishing a nuclear fuel cycle for defence reactor fuel.

The Nuclear Fuels programme is in its early development phase and we are currently working with industry to develop options for its delivery. These options will inform the timescales for completion.