15 Jun 2026·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWith reference to the UK Defence Industrial Strategy 2025: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, when he expects to meet his Department's target to spend £4 billion on uncrewed and autonomous military systems in t
ReplyWork to deliver the Strategic Defence Review recommendations, including the procurement of uncrewed and autonomous systems discussed in the UK Industrial Strategy 2025, will be set out in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan.
15 Jun 2026·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedHow many new energetics and munitions factories are under construction.
ReplyFeasibility studies for energetic material factories are expected to conclude no later than October 2026. The MOD intends to open a grant funding opportunity to onshore energetics production in Q3 2026 with a view to industry commencing construction of th...
15 Jun 2026·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedHow much his Department has spent on uncrewed and autonomous military systems in this Parliament.
ReplySince July 2024, the Department has committed more than £500 million to Uncrewed and Autonomous Systems. Decisions on future funding will be considered as part of the Defence Investment Plan.
12 Jun 2026·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedIf he will provide an update on his Department’s plans to deliver a next generation Tactical Communication and Information Systems capability.
ReplyThe Department’s plans for the next generation of Tactical Communication and Information Systems capability are being developed through the Army’s Land Domain Command, Control, Compute and Communication (LDC4) Programme. LDC4 brings together and builds on...
12 Jun 2026·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhat assessment he has made of the ability of Bowman 5.7 to provide sufficient resilience, bandwidth and capacity to support the Digital Targeting Web.
ReplyThe Programme team does not recognise the term “Bowman 5.7”. Bowman refers to the radio element of the wider Bowman Common Battlefield Infrastructure and Platform (BCIP), which is often used as shorthand for the overall system. BCIP 5.7 is a proposed upgr...
12 Jun 2026·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhat progress he has made on the Bowman 5.7 upgrade.
ReplyThe Programme team does not recognise the term “Bowman 5.7”. Bowman refers to the radio element of the wider Bowman Common Battlefield Infrastructure and Platform (BCIP), which is often used as shorthand for the overall system. BCIP 5.7 is a proposed upgr...
3 Jun 2026·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedBy which year does he forecast the Royal Navy surface fleet will return to its minimum target strength of frigates and destroyers.
ReplyThe Royal Navy is on track to have 19 frigates and destroyers in the 2030s, with eight Type 26 and five Type 31 frigates set to join six Type 45 destroyers already in service.
2 Jun 2026·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhat steps he is taking to manage the risk of wildfires on Otterburn Training Area.
ReplyDefence has a robust process of assessing the wildfire risk daily where the fire alert state reaches yellow in line with Met Office guidance. Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO)’s comprehensive wildfire policy considers the operational requirement t...
2 Jun 2026·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhat steps he is taking to manage the risk of wildfires on Stanford Training Area.
ReplyDefence has a robust process of assessing the wildfire risk daily where the fire alert state reaches yellow in line with Met Office guidance. Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO)’s comprehensive wildfire policy considers the operational requirement t...
2 Jun 2026·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhat steps he is taking to manage the risk of wildfires on Pirbright Ranges Training Area.
ReplyDefence has a robust process of assessing the wildfire risk daily where the fire alert state reaches yellow in line with Met Office guidance. Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO)’s comprehensive wildfire policy considers the operational requirement t...
2 Jun 2026·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhat plans he is taking to manage the risk of wildfires on Salisbury Plain Training Area.
ReplyDefence has a robust process of assessing the wildfire risk daily where the fire alert state reaches yellow in line with Met Office guidance. Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO)’s comprehensive wildfire policy considers the operational requirement t...
2 Jun 2026·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWith reference to the effect of climate change, what steps he is taking to manage the risk of wildfires on the defence estate.
ReplyDefence has a robust process of assessing the wildfire risk daily where the fire alert state reaches yellow in line with Met Office guidance. Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO)’s comprehensive wildfire policy considers the operational requirement t...
2 Jun 2026·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2026 to Question 780 on Navy, when the final 10 Project BEEHIVE craft will be delivered.
ReplyThe Ministry of Defence continues to take delivery of Project BEEHIVE craft in line with the approved programme schedule. Of the 20 vessels on order, 18 have already been delivered, with the remaining craft expected shortly.
2 Jun 2026·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2026 to Question 780 on Navy, what recent estimate he has made of the date on which HMS Bangor will complete its repairs and return to service.
ReplyAll structural repairs to HMS Bangor have been completed. She is undergoing the necessary assurance and certification processes to return to sea.
2 Jun 2026·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2026 to Question 780 on Navy, when the final two MMCM vessels will be delivered.
ReplyFour MMCM systems have been procured for the Royal Navy. Two systems have been delivered to date, one of which has entered service in support of potential operations in the Middle East. The remaining two systems are currently forecast for delivery by the ...
1 Jun 2026·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhich programmes have been removed from the Defence Investment Plan to expedite their delivery.
ReplyWe are working to finalise the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) and the Prime Minister is determined to publish it before the NATO summit. Our aim is to ensure decisions in the DIP are robust and support the development of both current and future capabilitie...
29 May 2026·Ministry of Defence·Pending
AskedWhat is the a) cost to date and b) planned final cost of the Tempest Combat Air Flying Demonstrator programme.
29 May 2026·Ministry of Defence·Pending
AskedWhat his planned timetable is for the first flight of the Tempest Combat Air Flying Demonstrator.
29 May 2026·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhether his Department owns land within the University of Sussex Campus.
ReplyThe Ministry of Defence does not own any land within the University of Sussex Campus.
29 May 2026·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedIf he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the recent decision by the French Government to switch from using Microsoft Windows to Linux on government devices.
ReplyThe Ministry of Defence keeps its approach to digital technology, including the selection and use of operating systems on its devices, under continual review and regularly assesses developments in the wider international environment. Decisions on platform...