Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

What steps he is taking to develop hypersonic vectors for use by the Royal Air Force.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided to Question 48869, by my right hon. Friend Maria Eagle MP, on 12 May 2025.

What steps he is taking to improve (a) infrastructure and (b) capacity at HMP Dhekalia within the Sovereign Base Area in Cyprus.

HMP Dhekelia has received several infrastructure upgrades in recent years, including refreshed dining and recreational spaces. A redevelopment of the facility is currently in the planning stages, which aims to increase capacity and further improve facilities.

How many Ajax Armoured vehicles had been delivered to the Armoured Cavalry Programme by 1 July 2025.

As at 1 July 2025, 116 platforms had been delivered to the Field Army.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of procuring General Atomics’ Gambit 5 uncrewed combat aerial vehicle.

The Royal Navy is exploring how Fixed Wing Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (FW ACPs) could augment F35B Lightning embarked in Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) carriers to provide additional strike capability. There are a number of emerging solutions for this capability and the Royal Navy will work collaboratively with the Royal Air Force to evaluate these solutions.

Which RAF squadrons continue to operate Tranche 1 Typhoons.

RAF No 1435 Flight operate the Tranche 1 Typhoons.

What was the outcome of Project Monet.

Project MONET delivered detailed reporting on the potential for emerging technologies to enhance Defence flying training which will inform future investment decisions.

Pursuant with reference to the Answer of 24 July 2025 to Question HL9397 on Typhoon Aircraft: Factories, what elements of the Typhoons expected to be ordered by Germany will be manufactured in the UK.

It is the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency who set the industrial sub-system production and workshare agreements across the partner nations. Through partner nation agreement, NETMA have set United Kingdom industrial workshare as 37%. Eurofighter GMBH manage its sub-system and component manufacturing orders from across the industrial base of each partner nation, in line with that workshare agreement percentage.  Some of the major components that UK leads on the manufacturing include the front and rear fuselage, windscreen and canopy, fin and rudder, engine bay doors, foreplane and a range of major avionics systems.

What steps the Royal Air Force’s NEXUS programme is taking to support battle space data transfer.

NEXUS is part of a broader shift towards cloud-based command and control - creating huge opportunities for improved use of our operational data. NEXUS offers a Government-owned approach to how we can share battle space data across air domain capabilities, across other domains and with allies and partners. NEXUS will provide improved situational awareness in order to execute missions in a timely and efficient manner. By ingesting multiple data feeds and transposing them into a common data layer, commanders will be provided with situational awareness of tactical and real-world information that can be manipulated by operators to provide timely information at the speed of relevance.

What progress he has made in delivering the Armoured Cavalry 2025 Programme.

The Armoured Cavalry programme continues to remain on track to achieve Initial Operating Capability by December 2025. As at 1 September 2025, 143 Ajax platforms have been accepted by the Ministry of Defence, of which 135 have been delivered to the Field Army. The programme will deliver all 589 vehicles by September 2029 as contracted.

What progress he has made on the Naval Bases project of the Naval Support Integrated Global Network programme.

The Naval Support Integrated Global Network (NSIGN) Programme continues to progress through the Assessment Phase with the NSIGN (Submarines) Project Outline Business Case (OBC) approved April 2025 and Full Business Case approval expected in early 2026. Concept work is progressing with the NSIGN(Ships) and NSIGN (Naval Bases) Projects seeking OBC approval early and mid-2026 respectively. The NSIGN Projects will enable the Ministry of Defence to contract for Submarine and enabling Naval Base services delivered through Clyde and Devonport in March 2026 and for Ships and wider Naval Base services from October 2028, with a parallel (and planned) extension of the Future Maritime Support Programme (FMSP) where required, for the period March 2026 to October 2028.

What is the breakdown of the six Ajax variants within the 589 vehicles to be delivered as part of the Armoured Cavalry 2025 Programme.

A breakdown of the Ajax family of vehicles to be delivered as part of the Armoured Cavalry programme is provided below. VariantTotalRoleAJAX245Reconnaissance and joint fires observerARES93Deliver and support specialist troopsATHENA112Command and ControlATLAS38Recover damaged vehiclesAPOLLO50Repair and tow damaged vehiclesARGUS51Specialist engineering reconnaissance *ARES is the common base platform for all variants.

What progress he has made on the submarine support project of the Naval Support Integrated Global Network programme.

The Naval Support Integrated Global Network (NSIGN) Programme continues to progress through the Assessment Phase with the NSIGN (Submarines) Project Outline Business Case (OBC) approved April 2025 and Full Business Case approval expected in early 2026. Concept work is progressing with the NSIGN(Ships) and NSIGN (Naval Bases) Projects seeking OBC approval early and mid-2026 respectively. The NSIGN Projects will enable the Ministry of Defence to contract for Submarine and enabling Naval Base services delivered through Clyde and Devonport in March 2026 and for Ships and wider Naval Base services from October 2028, with a parallel (and planned) extension of the Future Maritime Support Programme (FMSP) where required, for the period March 2026 to October 2028.

What independent capability the UK has to protect its own space assets and interests.

UK Space Command’s mission is to protect and defend national and military space interests, and enable UK forces to operate globally. The National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC) works to protect the UK from space-related threats and risks. As the military component of NSpoC, No 1 Space Operations Squadron, monitors space activity, defends the UK’s ability to operate in space, and supports military missions with space expertise. No 2 Space Warning Squadron provides vital support to UK Space Command and allied operations. The squadron contributes to NATO security through global missile warning, and also supports Space Domain Awareness through the detection, tracking, and identification of objects in Space. The Strategic Defence Review reinforced this Government's commitment to increasing defence spending and strengthening the UK's space capabilities, with clear recommendations to invest in nationally separable capability to control the domain at a time and place of our choosing, global decision advantage, and space-based sensors to understand and act. Owing to the sensitive nature of UK Space Command’s mission and work, we cannot disclose details on the exact capability utilised as part of its mission or its overall development plans.

What progress he has made on the Teutates programme.

The TEUTATES programme is part of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE). It includes the ongoing development of an interim firing point at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Aldermaston site. The Technology Development Centre is also at AWE Aldermaston and is now being repurposed to support other programmes, having originally been constructed for TEUTATES.As set out in the DNE 2025 Annual Update to Parliament published on 22 May, the first X-rays by the UK-supplied Induction Voltage Adder machine were fired at the EPURE hydrodynamics facility in November 2024, marking an important Treaty milestone.I hope the hon. Gentleman will understand that I am withholding cost estimates for the programme as release would prejudice international relations.

When the RAF will receive the first Typhoons with a European Common Radar System Mark 2 radar.

Delivery and integration of the European Common Radar System Mark 2 onto RAF Typhoon Tranche 3 aircraft, as part of the Eurofighter Phase 4 Enhancement (P4E) programme, will commence by the end of this decade.

With reference to the Answer of 24 July 2025 to Question HL9397 on Typhoon Aircraft: Factories, what elements of the Typhoons ordered by Italy will be manufactured in the UK.

It is the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency who set the industrial sub-system production and workshare agreements across the partner nations. Through partner nation agreement, NETMA have set United Kingdom industrial workshare as 37%. Eurofighter GMBH manage its sub-system and component manufacturing orders from across the industrial base of each partner nation, in line with that workshare agreement percentage.  Some of the major components that UK leads on the manufacturing include the front and rear fuselage, windscreen and canopy, fin and rudder, engine bay doors, foreplane and major avionics systems.

What is the planned in-service date of the Astraea A21 warhead.

As the hon. gentleman would understand, the expected out-of-service date for our current Mk4A nuclear warhead and the expected in-service date for Astraea are being withheld as release would prejudice national security.

What assessment has he made of the potential merits of elevating space assets to a priority portfolio under the National Armaments Director.

The Ministry of Defence is introducing Service-agnostic capability portfolios to increase flexibility and drive pace in procurement. As set out in the Strategic Defence Review, delivering space-based capabilities is a priority for defence and a space systems portfolio is in scope for implementation under the National Armaments Director.

What is the out-of-service date of the Holbrook nuclear warhead.

As the hon. gentleman would understand, the expected out-of-service date for our current Mk4A nuclear warhead and the expected in-service date for Astraea are being withheld as release would prejudice national security.

What recent discussions his Department has had with their US counterparts on the recent trial of the Regent Craft Viceroy Seaglider by the US Marine Corps.

The Ministry of Defence engages routinely with the United States Department of Defense, the US Navy and the US Marine Corps on capability development and experimentation. We are aware of allied activity relating to seaglider technologies and wing-in-ground effect platforms and we keep all such emerging technologies under review.