Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

When he expects the new Defence Research and Evaluation organisation to be fully operational.

In response to the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) recommendations, and as part of Defence Reform, the department is currently making substantive changes to the end-to-end process for Science, Technology, Innovation, Integration, Acquisition and Support. These changes will ensure Defence: better adopts leading edge research from academia, allies and wider government; works more closely with UK based industry especially SMEs to mature leading edge technology; better leverages the UK’s leading financial sector for the benefit of defence; and catalyses UK based industry to execute differentiating innovation; all at a pace to enable us to react to the threats faced by the nation. The DRE will be formed by an evolution of Dstl and Defence Science and Technology. There is still design work to be completed and will be announced in due course. The intention remains to focus the organisation on that work that must be done in Government for UK defence and security, including: early-stage research that must be led by officials; maintaining critical national capabilities in essential areas such as chemical and biological defence, novel and unconventional weapons, explosives and energetics and counter-terrorism technology where the market cannot sustain; and ensure Ministry of Defence is an intelligent customer for Science and Technology. The SDR stated that the department may wish to keep the Dstl brand. Dstl is a widely respected brand internationally and nationally.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 56960 on Typhoon Aircraft, when he expects to complete the rollout of the Striker 2 helmet-mounted display for Typhoon FGR4 pilots.

The Striker 2 helmet-mounted display is under development by BAE Systems as part of a £40 million contract announced in September 2023. The next phase of prototype development is currently underway to achieve a production-ready standard, after which a rollout timeline will be determined.

What his planned timetable is for reviewing the National Nuclear Strategic Plan for Skills.

The National Nuclear Strategic Plan for Skills will be reviewed and refreshed later this year. The additional 18,000 jobs in the defence nuclear workforce will be located predominately in the Defence Nuclear Enterprise locations specified on page 11 of Command Paper 1058: Delivering the UK’s Nuclear Deterrent as a National Endeavour, available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-nuclear-enterprise-command-paper.

What resources his Department his providing to support NATO’s Baltic Sentry operation.

The UK provides RAF P-8 Poseidon and Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft to support the NATO’s Baltic Sentry deployment to protect critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 57461 on Nuclear Power: Security, where the additional 18,000 jobs in the defence nuclear workforce will be located.

The National Nuclear Strategic Plan for Skills will be reviewed and refreshed later this year. The additional 18,000 jobs in the defence nuclear workforce will be located predominately in the Defence Nuclear Enterprise locations specified on page 11 of Command Paper 1058: Delivering the UK’s Nuclear Deterrent as a National Endeavour, available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-nuclear-enterprise-command-paper.

What estimate he has made of the timetable for procuring F-35As.

Following the publication of the Strategic Defence Review, Defence is considering its future Combat Air mix, and the procurement options required to meet future threats and achieve our NATO obligations. This analysis will be conducted as part of the Defence Investment Plan, which will conclude in the autumn.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a Defence AI Investment Fund.

As set out when the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) was published, the Government accepts the vision and recommendations of the SDR, including the recommendation to create a protected Defence AI investment Fund. The SDR recommends an immediate priority for force transformation should be a shift towards greater use of autonomy and Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the UK's conventional forces. Learning the lessons from Ukraine, this would provide greater accuracy, lethality, and cheaper capabilities-changing the economics of Defence. This shift should be facilitated by the parallel development of a common digital foundation and digital targeting web as well as protected investment in AI research and development.

What progress has his Department has made in developing novel directed energy weapons.

Following the Strategic Defence Review, we have announced nearly £1 billion in further investment for Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) this Parliament. This funding will ensure the DragonFire Laser DEW system enters service with the Royal Navy in 2027 and will enable a DEW capability to enter service with the British Army this decade. Accelerating these capabilities ensures our Armed Forces have access to cutting edge technologies as soon as possible.

How many Land Rovers of all variants are in use by the (a) Army, (b) Royal Air Force, (c) Royal Navy and (d) Royal Marines.

We do not routinely break down equipment capability figures and therefore I am withholding this information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces. However, I can advise that a total of 5,674 Land Rovers are in service across Defence.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of establishing a CyberEM Command.

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) recommended the establishment of a Cyber and Electromagnetic (Cyber & EM) Command, this was after careful consideration of proposals for the Cyber & EM domain and the related evidence gathering process for the SDR. This process is set out in the Appendix to the SDR Report published on 2 June 2025. The SDR made the assessment that the Command will bring improved coherence to Defence’s contribution to this Domain, and we have engaged with international partners to learn from the establishment of their respective Cyber Commands. The benefits of the new Command will include an improved ability to manage and mitigate Defence’s cyber risk; centralised authorities to enhance cyber talent and skills; an increased ability to conduct and respond to electromagnetic operations and the provision of a single ‘front-door’ for Defence’s Cyber & EM engagement with our national and international partners.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a Defence Uncrewed Systems Centre.

With rapid technological advances, the Defence Uncrewed Systems Centre will centralise work within the Ministry of Defence and accelerate the shift towards greater use of uncrewed and autonomous capabilities. It will: fast-track our exploitation and integration of small, uncrewed air systems on the battlefield; capitalise on lessons from Ukraine to harness the latest technical advances, revolutionizing how we develop, test and employ small uncrewed systems to deliver systems to the front line faster; and provide a central knowledge base and build a skillset across Defence to tackle emerging legislative changes, develop best practice and better manage the interface with industry.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Royal Navy’s Atlantic Bastion concept on the security of the North Atlantic.

Atlantic Bastion is the Royal Navy's plan to secure the North Atlantic for the UK and NATO. It will exploit advances in autonomy and artificial intelligence to deter the growing underwater threat in light of a modernising Russian submarine force. It will be implemented as a mix of crewed and uncrewed platforms.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the statement by the NATO secretary-general that NATO members should commit to spending (a) 3.5 per cent of GDP on hard defence and (b) 1.5 per cent on security.

This will form part of discussions ahead of the NATO Summit at the end of June. As these proposals are subject to agreement of all NATO Allies, including the UK, I hope the hon. Gentleman will know it would not be appropriate to comment at this time.

What steps he plans to take in order to implement Recommendation 1 of the 2025 Strategic Defence Review.

This Government is endorsing the vision and accepting all 62 recommendations in the SDR, which will be implemented. We are developing a new Defence Investment Plan to deliver the SDR's new vision. We will ensure the Plan is deliverable and affordable, considers infrastructure alongside capabilities, enables flexibility to seize new technology opportunities, and maximises the benefits of defence spending to grow the UK economy. This will supersede the old-style Defence Equipment Plan. This will deliver the best kit and technology into the hands of our frontline forces at speed and, importantly, invest in and grow the UK economy. The Defence Investment Plan will be completed in Autumn 2025. Another key factor in success in the coming years will be the Defence Reform programme which is driving the deepest defence reforms for 50 years. The SDR recognises that one cannot succeed without the other and that where the SDR states what Defence must do in the next decade and beyond, Defence Reform will ultimately determine how, and how successfully, it is delivered.

What steps he plans to take to increase the Army Active Reserve numbers by 20 per cent.

As the SDR has recommended, it is our intention to increase the UK's Active Reserve forces by at least 20 per cent. We recognise the need to adopt a whole of society approach to defence and the requirement for defence in depth. We are committed to growing the reserves. This will be part of an integrated approach to growing all of Defence’s Reserves. We are looking hard at policies to ensure we can meet the intent when funding allows. In the meantime, we are making better use of the resources available already by urgently reinvigorating how we engage with those ex-Regulars who have a mobilisation obligation (the Strategic Reserve), and reviewing our Reserves model. We are also improving recruitment and retention within the Active Reserves through more flexible careers, better accommodation, and more stable, family-friendly postings.

What metric he plans to use to assess success against increasing lethality ten-fold.

Ultimately, lethality will be judged by our ability to deter, fight, and win-through innovation, integration, and readiness.Defence already maintains internal models to track and assess combat power, including classified simulations and operational effectiveness metrics. We are already seeing measurable improvements through the Army's operational deployments and exercises, where sensor-to-shooter times have decreased, and survivability has increased. These are the kinds of real-world outcomes that matter.

When the British Army’s new Recce-Strike approach will come into effect.

In line with the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review, the Army will become ten times more lethal – Recce-Strike is a key element of this transformation, and sees a significant shift in how the Army prepares for and conducts warfare. Fighting by Recce-Strike at every level is one element of how the British Army will fight and operate differently to achieve domain advantage over adversaries. Army’s Project ASGARD will enhance the Army’s ability to find (‘recce’) and destroy (‘strike’) enemy targets, and through Project WAVELL, the Army is adapting its structures, which combined with our modernisation programme, will align our capabilities to revise our approach set out in the Land Operating Concept.

What assessment has he made of the potential merits of reconstituting the National Space Council.

The Ministry of Defence along with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and other Departments, remains committed to ensuring that space activities are effectively coordinated across government. Ministers from across Government met on the 22 April to discuss our approach, and the Strategic Defence Review has recommended that a Cabinet sub-committee or equivalent be used to take forward our space strategy. This will be developed by Government to ensure strong Ministerial support for this vital area.

If he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the scope of the National Nuclear Strategic Plan for Skills published on 15 May 2024, in the context of trends in the level of global security.

Renewing and maintaining the nuclear deterrent is truly a national endeavour, providing highly skilled jobs across the United Kingdom. The National Nuclear Strategic Plan for Skills is vital to that endeavour. Delivery of the plan is underway, cultivating economic growth and providing greater opportunity and access to careers in the defence nuclear sector nationwide, with the defence nuclear workforce set to increase from around 47,000 to 65,000 by 2030. The plan will be reviewed and refreshed, following publication of the Strategic Defence Review.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the global posture review undertaken by the US government on (a) the UK's defence policy, (b) NATO deployments and (c) use of RAF bases by USAFE in the UK.

The US Administration is currently undertaking its Global Posture Review. Decisions on the deployment and posture of US forces are for the US Administration. We welcome the continued presence of United States forces in the UK, their engagement with the local communities in which they are based and the role they play in contributing to European defence, security and deterrence.