Written questions by Cartlidge.

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 44502 on Puma Helicopters: Decommissioning, which non-SF units have undertaken jungle training in Brunei since 5 July 2024.

The Jungle Warfare Division delivers two Jungle Warfare Instructors Courses per year and two Operational Tracking Instructor Courses per year in Brunei for military training. Since 5 July 2024, the Jungle Warfare Division has delivered four courses. Alongside units training in Brunei, the Jungle Training Courses delivered by the Jungle Warfare Division often involve cohorts of service personnel drawn from multiple units across Defence, sometimes in small numbers. It is therefore not possible to list all the units represented as this information isn’t held centrally.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of upgrading the A400M fleet to include an air to air refuelling system.

The A400M fleet is equipped with an Air-to-Air refuelling probe. The aircraft is fully cleared to receive fuel while airborne from Voyager aircraft.

Whether any non-SF training will take place in Brunei between 28 April 2025 and 28 April 2026.

The Jungle Warfare Division delivers two Jungle Warfare Instructors Courses per year and two Operational Tracking Instructor Courses per year in Brunei for military training. Since 5 July 2024, the Jungle Warfare Division has delivered four courses. Alongside units training in Brunei, the Jungle Training Courses delivered by the Jungle Warfare Division often involve cohorts of service personnel drawn from multiple units across Defence, sometimes in small numbers. It is therefore not possible to list all the units represented as this information isn’t held centrally.

What steps he is taking to ensure that the nuclear programme supply chain is open to SMEs from the UK.

The Defence Nuclear Enterprise supply chain is made up of over 3,000 UK-based businesses including many Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) who are contributing significantly to innovation, supply chain efficiency, and local economies. The Ministry of Defence continues to work with our largest suppliers through a network of their SME Champions, trade associations and SME representatives to ensure that SMEs have fair access to opportunities in all our supply chains. We have announced the launch of a new hub to provide SMEs with better access to the entire defence supply chain, including the Defence Nuclear Enterprise. We will also set direct SME spending targets by June this year, ensuring that thousands of small businesses in the UK will benefit from the decision to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP. This is a chance for small, often family-owned, firms to bring their innovations, agility and their expert workforce to the task of strengthening Britain’s defences.

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the RAF's air to air refuelling system.

All capability requirements, including those for Air-to-Air refuelling, are being considered as part of the Strategic Defence Review process.

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 44502 on Puma Helicopters: Decommissioning, whether the First Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles make use of jungle training facilities in Brunei.

The resident Battalion of The Royal Gurkha Rifles continue to make use of jungle training in Brunei within the permitted training parameters.

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 44502 on Puma Helicopters: Decommissioning, whether the Brunei Jungle Warfare Skills meet will occur in 2025 if a replacement for the Puma capability is not in place.

The Jungle Warfare Skills Meet (JWSM) will not occur in 2025 but will run again in 2026 on a biennial cadence, in line with the intention of The Royal Brunei Land Force.

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 44502 on Puma Helicopters: Decommissioning, whether the two CH47 Chinook helicopters currently deployed in Cyprus are provided from the fleet of the 14 Chinook helicopters being decommissioned.

Of the two Chinook H-47 currently deployed to cover the aerial firefighting season in Cyprus, one is earmarked for retirement as part of the planned decommissioning of the oldest 14 aircraft in the Chinook fleet. There is no impact on Chinook fleet operational outputs as a result of the forward deployment of two Chinook H-47 to Cyprus.

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 April to Question 44502 on Puma Helicopters: Decommissioning, what steps he is taking to ensure that there will be no loss of operational output from the Chinook fleet as a result of the deployment of two CH47 Chinook helicopters in Cyprus.

Of the two Chinook H-47 currently deployed to cover the aerial firefighting season in Cyprus, one is earmarked for retirement as part of the planned decommissioning of the oldest 14 aircraft in the Chinook fleet. There is no impact on Chinook fleet operational outputs as a result of the forward deployment of two Chinook H-47 to Cyprus.

What recent progress his Department has made on implementing the Next Generation (fixed) Communication Network Programme.

The Next Generation Communication Network Programme is focussed on delivering the required security enhancements that will allow consolidation of service provision and financial savings. In addition, work has now commenced on how best to achieve the network transformation required by Defence, whilst migrating legacy services to a sustainable, and modernised networking approach.

What recent progress his Department has made on implementing the Naval Support Integrated Global Network (NSIGN) Programme.

The Naval Support Integrated Global Network (NSIGN) Projects will enable the Ministry of Defence to contract for Submarine and Naval Base services delivered through Clyde and Devonport in March 2026, and for Ships and wider Naval Base services from October 2028.The NSIGN Programme continues to progress through the Assessment Phase with the NSIGN (Submarines) Project Outline Business Case (OBC) being approved in April 2025. Work is progressing with the NSIGN(Ships) and NSIGN (Naval Bases) Projects, both of which will be seeking OBC approval in Autumn 2025.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 March to Question 34638 on Puma Helicopters: Decommissioning, whether he has a formal target date for when the H145 HC2 Jupiter helicopter will enter service in (a) Brunei and (b) Cyprus.

The HC145 HC2 Jupiter is on track to deliver Initial Operating Capability in 2026 to both Brunei and Cyprus.

What recent progress his Department has made on implementing the New Style of Information Technology Deployed Programme.

The programme achieved Acceptance into Service, and declaration of Initial Operating Capability (IOC) in the Land Environment in March 2024. In the last 12 months the programme has released an updated Operational Network (OpNET) capability with significantly enhanced build software. This is currently being deployed across the land environment and will facilitate the withdrawal of legacy systems from the land environment before the end of 2025. Following installation of OpNET to both Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers, the programme is now focussed on extending this capability across the Rest of the Fleet. During financial year 2024-25 OpNET was installed to RFA TIDEFORCE, HMS SUTHERLAND, and HMS SCOTT. Plans are in place for six further installations during the current financial year.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 April to Question 43178 on Defence: Procurement, what expenditure was involved in the Sheffield Forgemaster Recapitalisation; and when the business case was first submitted.

The Government will provide a full update on the Sheffield Forgemasters recapitalisation later this year.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 43178 on Defence: Procurement, how much has been spent on the AWE Client Partnership Framework; and when the business case was first submitted.

As of March 2025, £3.8 million has been spent on the development phase of the AWE Client Partnership Framework. The business case for the framework was submitted to the Cabinet Office in January 2025.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 April to Question 43178 on Defence: Procurement, what expenditure is involved in the Project BRAMLEY (ICT infrastructure); and when the business case was first submitted.

This information is being withheld on the grounds of National Security as its’ disclosure would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the United Kingdom.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 43178 on Defence: Procurement, how much has been spent on Dreadnought Support; and when the business case was first submitted.

As of April 2025, there has been no spend on the Dreadnought Support Programme. The business case to initiate the support activities is currently going through the relevant approvals process.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 April to Question 43178 on Defence: Procurement, what expenditure was involved in the Future Maritime Support Programme; and when the business case was first submitted.

The Full Business Case for the Future Maritime Support Programme (FMSP) was submitted in November 2020 and contracts were awarded in April 2021. The current total approved budgetary limit for FMSP through to contract expiration in 2026 is £6.853 billion.An extension of the current contract to 2028 is currently being costed.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 April to Question 43178 on Defence: Procurement, what expenditure is involved in the Astute programme; and when the business case was first submitted.

The Astute programme’s Approved Budgetary Level is currently £12.2 billion. The business case was submitted to HM Treasury in March 2025.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 43178 on Defence: Procurement, how much has been spent on Project Appivate; and when the business case was first submitted.

Appivate is the RAF's own in-house software delivery team, established as an innovation initiative in 2021.Since it was established, the total spend by RAF digital on Appivate up to the end of financial year 2024-25 was £26.2 million.The Business Case referred to in the answer to Question 43178 was submitted to the Cabinet Office in March 2025.