Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

What is the full scope of Project IRIS.

The aim of Project IRIS was to ensure the Army has the future Land Command, Control, Communications, Computers & Intelligence (C4I) capability necessary to achieve its "New Way of Winning" vision and define the pathway to a data-driven Army, within the Land Domain Deployed Digital Ecosystem (LD3E) that is appropriately transformative, scalable, secure, resilient, agile and ultimately affordable and deliverable. The project formally concluded in 2024 and lessons are being applied across Army digital programmes. Detail regarding these lessons is sensitive and cannot be released as it would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the UK’s ability to defend itself against space-based critical national infrastructure attack.

The operational effectiveness of national space-based critical infrastructure is constantly being assessed against projected operational demands and emerging threats. Where necessary, adjustments are then made across the entire MoD Space enterprise to both ground- and space-based elements, wherever its most advantageous for preserving space infrastructure capabilities. UK Space Command’s mission remains to protect and defend national and military space interests, and enable UK forces to operate globally. UK Space Command continues to work closely with both cross-Government and international allies and partners, to secure its freedom of manoeuvre and access to the space domain. As the Strategic Defence Review set out, this Government is taking decisive steps to enhance the UK’s ability to deter threats in space and, if necessary, protect our systems. This includes playing a pivotal role in strengthening European security by investing in space control capabilities and deeper collaboration with NATO and allied partners.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of reconfiguring the European defence industrial base to facilitate (a) collaborative development, (b) shared production and (c) integrated logistics.

At this critical moment for the security of our continent, it is important that we work together with our European allies to strengthen our collective defence industrial base, recognising that the UK is an essential part of Europe’s security. As part of our recent Security and Defence partnership with the EU, we have agreed to explore closer co-operation and joint investment in our defence industrial base. In the first instance, the partnership creates a basis for broad consultations on defence readiness and defence industry. Preventing the fragmentation of the European defence markets is in the shared interests of the UK and the EU, both for our collective security and to allow our industry to collaborate, avoid duplication and increase standardisation.

What recent assessment he has made of UK capability to meet the full-spectrum of industrial demands posed by modern high-intensity conflict.

Through commitments made in the Strategic Defence Review and the Defence Industrial Strategy, the Department is investing heavily in its supply chain to develop a more, resilient, innovative and agile approach to managing and mitigating risks across the Defence enterprise. Building on the success of last year’s Industry wargame we are standing up a supply chain focussed scenario planning and wargaming capability, including a roadmap of activities to stress-test scenarios to allow us to accelerate to surge capacity during times of conflict. This strengthens operational resilience, ensuring front-line forces remain supported and mission success is not compromised, even in contested environments.

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.

With reference to the Answer of 24 July 2025 to Question HL9397 on Typhoon Aircraft: Factories, what elements of the Typhoons ordered by Spain 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.

From where does UK Space Command recruit space warfighters.

UK Space Command is a Joint Command staffed by the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force, alongside Civil Servants and contractors. Civil Service positions within the Space Enterprise are conducted as part of fair and open recruitment, and any new position will be posted on the Civil Service Jobs website. Military positions are filled as part of standard military assignment processes. UK Space Command will continue to grow in line with Government requirements.

What assessment has he made of the potential merits of establishing UK Space Command as an independent branch of the UK armed forces.

UK Space Command remains an integral part of the Ministry of Defence and the UK Armed Forces, working collaboratively to ensure it remains a key component of UK Defence. Its role and effectiveness are continuously reviewed. Whilst there are no plans for this to change, at an appropriate time the future development of UK Space Command will be reviewed.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of adopting the Sig Sauer XM250 as a potential replacement for the L7A2.

The L7A2 General Purpose machine Gun (GPMG) is expected to be replaced under Project CAIRNS. Project CAIRNS is currently a pre-concept project and as such formal consideration of systems, including the Sig Sauer XM250, has not yet taken place.

How many Russian aircraft have been interdicted by RAF Typhoon Quick Reaction Alert aircraft in (a) 2023, (b) 2024 and (c) 2025.

I am withholding the information requested as deterrence is a principal function of RAF Typhoon Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) and QRA is in turn an integral part of the air defence of the UK. The disclosure of information that might compromise the QRA deterrent capability would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

How many StormShrouds will be procured by the Royal Air Force.

I am withholding the number of StormShrouds to be procured as it would harm the Capability and Effectiveness of the Armed Forces.

What assessment has he made of the adequacy of (a) fire service and (b) police coverage of the Huntingdon Gas Compressor.

The Government works closely with the energy industry, regulators and other stakeholders to continually improve and maintain the resilience and security of energy infrastructure, including sites such as the Huntingdon Gas Compressor. Government also works to reduce the vulnerability of assets, and to ensure an effective response to actual or potentially disruptive incidents considering a range of risks.

What projects will be delivered via the RAF’s Rapid Capabilities Office beyond StormShroud.

The Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) remit is to solve problems on behalf of the warfighter, enhancing the capabilities delivered to the front line by exploring game-changing technologies for the Royal Air Force. Many projects are Technology Demonstrations or studies into levels of industry wide technological maturity. Therefore, projects are dynamic and subject to change as they are driven by operational needs.

What new sites for sovereign production of complex weapons and critical systems have been identified by his Department.

The Strategic Defence Review committed to build at least six new energetics and munitions factories in the UK. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is currently developing a plan to deliver this commitment alongside our wider Defence Industrial Strategy, delivering long-term investment to boost UK growth and generating skilled UK jobs and export opportunities. The MOD is carefully considering arrangements for those factories including potential locations, and more detail will be set out in due course. It is currently considered to be premature to discuss specific proposals or sites until the necessary preparatory work has concluded.

When satellites (a) Juno and (b) Oberon will be launched.

The Juno and Oberon satellites are expected to launch in 2027 or 2028.

Whether StormShroud will give the Royal Air Force the ability to conduct a pulsed operation.

StormShroud augments and enhances the effects delivered by Combat Air platforms such as Typhoon but given the complex, dynamic and interacting nature of the all the factors that may influence pulsed operations, it is not possible to say that StormShroud alone would be the deciding factor in the ability to conduct a specific pulsed operation.

What integration opportunities across the Defence enterprise have been identified by the DE&S battlespace integration centre.

The Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Battlespace Integration Centre has identified numerous integration opportunities through the work undertaken to date on Integrated Air and Missile Defence, Future Air Dominance System, and other themes within the Strategic Defence Review. I am withholding information on the specific integration opportunities identified on the grounds of National Security as their disclosure would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Of equal importance have been the systemic opportunities to achieve better integration through understanding of dependencies and better systems-of-systems engineering. The majority of the value created by the Battlespace Integration Centre has been through collaborations on systemic improvements, such as: Exposing data-driven insights into relationships and dependencies between capabilities through collaboration with other MOD initiatives such as Strategic Decision Support and the Defence Capability Hierarchy. Digitising the likes of doctrine and threat data, for faster modelling and simulation of military capability problems. Sponsoring digital/AI innovation which can significantly cut down the time from identification of a problem to the accurate determination of the most effective option to address it.

How many Protector MQ-9Bs have been procured for the Royal Air Force.

Sixteen Protector RG Mk1 have been procured for the Royal Air Force.

When the Outline Business Case for the Type 83 destroyer is expected to be submitted.

On current plans the Outline Business Case will be submitted in June 2026 and subject to the Defence Investment Plan due for publication this Autumn.

What stages of the assembly of the Eurofighter Typhoon take place in (a) Warton, (b) Samlesbury and (c) overseas.

For UK acquired aircraft and UK led export orders, ‘final assembly’ takes place at Warton wherein the Major Equipment components which have been manufactured at Samlesbury by BAES and also by the European Partner Companies at facilities in Germany, Italy and Spain, are ultimately assembled.