Ministry of Defence

The reference to the cancellation of Project MORPHEUS in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts 2025 to 2026 relates to the decision not to continue MORPHEUS as a standalone project under the former Land Environment Tactical Communications and Information Systems Programme.

The underlying capability requirement has not been withdrawn. The outputs that MORPHEUS was intended to deliver are still required and will be taken forward through the Army’s Land Domain Command, Control, Communications and Computers Programme, including through the Tactical Communication and Information Systems Optimisation Project and the Tactical Network project.

This approach reflects a revised programme structure to sustain and modernise land tactical communications and information systems, rather than continuing MORPHEUS as a separate project.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is enhancing our awareness of space activities through significant investment in UK Space Domain Awareness (SDA) research and capability development. This investment includes upgrading the National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC) and developing a range of UK SDA sensors.The UK is also participating in the US-led trilateral Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) programme, which will provide 24/7, all-weather SDA capabilities that increase our ability to detect, track, identify and characterise objects up to Geostationary Earth Orbit.

To protect our critical national assets in orbit, the MOD will ensure the necessary Space Control systems and procedures are in place. Space Control means the use of defensive and offensive capabilities to assure access and freedom of action in space.

The Ministry of Defence does not routinely publish future forward fleet numbers, as doing so could reveal information that would prejudice operational security and the effectiveness of the Armed Forces.

The Ministry of Defence does not routinely publish future forward fleet numbers, as doing so could reveal information that would prejudice operational security and the effectiveness of the Armed Forces.

There are significant differences in how the UK and French nuclear enterprises are organised and structured which would render such a comparison meaningless.

As part of Project Royal Oak, £7.1 billion will be invested in HMNB Devonport and Devonport Dockyard over the next decade. This investment includes continued upgrades to 15 Dock to enhance capability and resilience for the submarine maintenance programme, the modernisation of 10 Dock, and completion of the 14 Dock recommissioning programme, which will enable legacy submarine defuelling operations to resume. It also includes broader infrastructure renewal and maintenance across the site.

This significant investment reflects both historic underinvestment in infrastructure and evolving operational requirements. The 15 Dock programme has already enabled the successful docking of the first Astute-class submarine at Devonport.

Following the nuclear regulatory review, we are currently exploring opportunities to accelerate work on 10 and 14 Dock, and we continue to drive forward delivery of these projects at the earliest possible opportunity.

As part of Project Royal Oak, £7.1 billion will be invested in HMNB Devonport and Devonport Dockyard over the next decade. This investment includes continued upgrades to 15 Dock to enhance capability and resilience for the submarine maintenance programme, the modernisation of 10 Dock, and completion of the 14 Dock recommissioning programme, which will enable legacy submarine defuelling operations to resume. It also includes broader infrastructure renewal and maintenance across the site.

This significant investment reflects both historic underinvestment in infrastructure and evolving operational requirements. The 15 Dock programme has already enabled the successful docking of the first Astute-class submarine at Devonport.

Following the nuclear regulatory review, we are currently exploring opportunities to accelerate work on 10 and 14 Dock, and we continue to drive forward delivery of these projects at the earliest possible opportunity.

As part of Project Royal Oak, £7.1 billion will be invested in HMNB Devonport and Devonport Dockyard over the next decade. This investment includes continued upgrades to 15 Dock to enhance capability and resilience for the submarine maintenance programme, the modernisation of 10 Dock, and completion of the 14 Dock recommissioning programme, which will enable legacy submarine defuelling operations to resume. It also includes broader infrastructure renewal and maintenance across the site.

This significant investment reflects both historic underinvestment in infrastructure and evolving operational requirements. The 15 Dock programme has already enabled the successful docking of the first Astute-class submarine at Devonport.

Following the nuclear regulatory review, we are currently exploring opportunities to accelerate work on 10 and 14 Dock, and we continue to drive forward delivery of these projects at the earliest possible opportunity.

The £20 billion of planned investment in new weapons and munitions between 2030 and 2035 reflects the Department's current planning assumptions for the period beyond the present Spending Review settlement.

Detailing funding for investments beyond 2029-30 will be set out as part of future Spending Reviews and subsequent budget-setting processes in the usual way.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 20 July 2026 to Question 18661.

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-07-14/18661

On 1 April 2026, the NAD Group launched a new segmented approach to procurement, which tailors acquisition routes to the type of capability, supplier and levels of risk. Procurement segmentation is designed to enable programmes to get to contract faster and has established three segments for Equipment acquisitions. We have published Acquisition Guides for all three segments, so MOD practitioners can apply best practice to drive pace in our acquisitions. These are supported by ‘test and learn’ demonstrators on a variety of Defence programmes. These segments are:

1. Major platforms (such as tanks, frigates and aircraft) with a target to go from an average of six to two years to first contract;
2. Pace setting modular upgrades (such as communications, sensors and weapons upgrades) with a target to go from an average of three to one year to first contract; and
3. Rapid commercial exploitation (such as uncrewed systems) with a target of three-month cycles.

Defence is continuing to reform acquisition and contracting practices to support warfighting readiness, industrial resilience and economic growth. These reforms include:

• a portfolio-driven approach to acquisition, strengthening category management and improving strategic engagement with suppliers;

• streamlining investment approvals, increasing delegation and removing organisational barriers to enable faster decision-making and delivery;

• improving value for money and strengthening resilience in supply chains; and

• providing clearer demand signals to industry to support a more productive and innovative defence sector.

These measures aim to ensure the Armed Forces receive the capabilities they need more rapidly.

The Defence Investment Plan sets out acquisition reforms designed to reduce the average time to contract and drive capability delivery. On 1 April 2026, the National Armaments Director Group launched a segmented approach to procurement, which tailors acquisition routes to the type of capability, supplier, and level of risk.

The Ministry of Defence has established three acquisition segments:

• major platforms (such as tanks, frigates and aircraft), with a target to reduce the average time to first contract from six years to two years;

• pace-setting modular upgrades (such as communications, sensors and weapons upgrades), with a target to reduce the average time to first contract from three years to one year; and

• rapid commercial exploitation (such as uncrewed systems), with a target of three-month acquisition cycles.

These reforms are supported by the Accelerating Commercial Pathways (ACP) programme, which aims to improve the Ministry of Defence's ability to harness flexibilities in the commercial process and ensure that commercial approaches are tailored to the needs of individual procurements, including through the use of flexibilities provided by the Procurement Act 2023. The programme has launched six Commercial Pathways and, since March 2025, over 300 procurements have self-selected one or more pathways

The Ministry of Defence routinely assesses the security of sovereign defence supply chains as a core component of warfighting readiness, operational preparedness, and national security. Through risk assessments, real-time supply chain mapping, horizon scanning, exercising and scenario-based testing, Defence identifies vulnerabilities and implements mitigations to strengthen the resilience of sovereign supply chains against disruption.

Through the Defence Supply Chain Capability Programme and the Industrial Resilience Programme, Defence is working with industry and allies to strengthen critical supply chains, improving the ability of industry to rapidly scale and surge production in response to emerging threats, and ensure the availability of priority materiel in the event of crisis or conflict. The Ministry of Defence is also working with Government departments, allies and partners to secure access to critical technologies and minerals essential to Defence capability.

The Ministry of Defence routinely assesses the security of sovereign defence supply chains as a core component of warfighting readiness, operational preparedness, and national security. Through risk assessments, real-time supply chain mapping, horizon scanning, exercising and scenario-based testing, Defence identifies vulnerabilities and implements mitigations to strengthen the resilience of sovereign supply chains against disruption.

Through the Defence Supply Chain Capability Programme and the Industrial Resilience Programme, Defence is working with industry and allies to strengthen critical supply chains, improving the ability of industry to rapidly scale and surge production in response to emerging threats, and ensure the availability of priority materiel in the event of crisis or conflict. The Ministry of Defence is also working with Government departments, allies and partners to secure access to critical technologies and minerals essential to Defence capability.

This Government is reducing regulatory burdens on procurement through the implementation of procurement reforms that simplify the procurement framework, introduce a single supplier registration system and provides greater flexibility for contracting authorities. Within Defence, acquisition reform and the Integrated Procurement Model are streamlining governance, reducing unnecessary bureaucracy, and supporting faster, more proportionate procurement activity. These measures are intended to improve efficiency, increase supplier participation, particularly from SMEs, and accelerate delivery of capability to the Armed Forces.

The Armed Forces Help to Buy (FHTB) scheme is designed to support home ownership amongst eligible Service personnel and their families. Current policy recognises the mobile nature of Service life and allows limited letting of an FHTB-funded property in specified circumstances, subject to approval.

The Ministry of Defence keeps the FHTB scheme under regular review and has considered a number of stakeholder suggestions regarding its operation, including the circumstances in which FHTB-funded properties may be let. However, no decision has been taken to extend existing letting provisions beyond current arrangements, as any such change would need to be carefully considered against the scheme's primary purpose of supporting owner-occupation and ensuring the effective use of public funds.

Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs) are the lifeblood of our Cadet Forces – without whom the fantastic benefits of being a cadet could not be enjoyed by many thousands of young people.

Work is currently underway to determine how the 30% increase in cadet numbers recommended in the Strategic Defence Review will be delivered. This includes the proposition we are able to make to attract and retain CFAVs. The success of the Cadet Forces is intrinsically linked to the adult volunteers, and we are assessing how best to support them.

The responses from a recent extensive survey of CFAVs are helping to inform our approach to improving recruitment and retention in order to deliver expansion. This involves a range of work strands such as exploring more flexible ways to volunteer, reviewing and modernising recognition and reward, and looking at measures to reduce CFAVs’ day‑to‑day administrative burden.

We are committed to providing a compelling and appropriate offer for CFAVs in recognition of their contribution and as part of our drive to expand the Cadet Forces, we are holding the first National Cadets Week starting on 5 October 2026. This is an exciting opportunity to celebrate, publicise, and support the outstanding contributions of our adult volunteers.

We will also be launching a new Cadets Action Plan during National Cadets Week. This will set out our long-term vision for the Cadet Forces and will focus on the need to ensure that our adult volunteers have the right resources and support.

The Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programme aims to mitigate current and emerging threats to ensure the Royal Air Force maintains a world-leading combat air capability. It will augment and enhance the effects of crewed aircraft across a range of Air Power roles. As the programme develops, it is expected to incorporate a range of capabilities to meet evolving operational requirements and technological advancements.

The Defence Investment Plan has provided funding for the UK’s second procurement phase of F-35 aircraft. Work is underway to establish the delivery profile, which will need to be negotiated and contracted through the multinational Joint Program Office.

No Tornado aircraft remain in UK military service. A few former Tornado airframes have been retained as technician ground training aids or preserved as gate guardians.

The Digital Targeting Web will be informed by Artificial Intelligence, employing advanced data analytics and machine learning to process large volumes of information quickly and efficiently. By merging data from multiple sources, recognising patterns and assessing risks, it will support our Service personnel to make safe and accurate decisions.

Project ATILLA aims to deliver an uncrewed ground vehicle minefield-breaching capability. Work is ongoing to convert Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicles as part of the trial phase.

The Royal Air Force currently operates a probe and drogue air-to-air refuelling system and will complement this with the development of a boom system. This will ensure we have a sovereign air-to-air refuelling capability for the future Royal Air Force fleet that enhances interoperability with NATO Allies and partners.

Decisions on the final disposal of the Hawk T1 aircraft have not yet been taken.

I can confirm that Ministry of Defence (MOD) direct expenditure with Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in the UK was £1.2 billion in 2024-25.

4% of MOD direct expenditure with UK industry is with Small and Medium-sized Enterprises.

The most recent spend figures available can be found here: MOD regional expenditure statistics with industry: 2024/25 - GOV.UK

Work on gathering the necessary data for reporting 2025-26 figures is still underway with publication expected in the Autumn.

The government is fully committed to renewing the nation’s contract with those who serve and who have served, to ensure veterans and their families get access to the health, housing, employment and other support they need.

The government's Veterans Strategy commits to continued investment in data and insights on veterans and their experiences. This will ensure that policy is evidence based, that targeted interventions deliver the right support at the right time, and to measure the strategy’s impact.

Alongside this, the £50 million VALOUR programme will make it easier for all veterans to access the care and support they deserve. VALOUR Recognised Centres, VALOUR Field Officers will gather data on the ground, while VALOUR HQ will work together with policy and research teams to analyse data and insight gathered, to ensure that services are designed to meet local needs. As the programme develops, we are working hard to ensure that the VALOUR network is inclusive of all veterans’ needs and experiences.

For veterans in need of help, dedicated support is available to veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness through Op FORTITUDE, or for mental and physical health needs through Ops COURAGE and RESTORE. Employment support is delivered through Op ASCEND and programmes such as the Career Transition partnership. For those in contact with or at risk of contact with the Criminal Justice System support is available through Op NOVA.

The Ministry of Defence’s overall expenditure in Scotland during 2024-25 was £2.2 billion. The largest contracts in Scotland represent long-term, enduring investments, with payment values varying over time as different phases of programmes are delivered and contractual milestones are achieved.

As set out in the Defence Industrial Strategy and the Defence Investment Plan (DIP), this Government is committed to making defence an engine for economic growth across the UK, including in Scotland. The DIP is investing £298 billion over the next four years and is assessed to support an additional 60,000 direct and indirect jobs across the United Kingdom.

All nations and regions of the UK stand to benefit from this investment, the extent of future benefits in Scotland depending on the outcome of future competitions and procurement decisions. Initiatives such as the Scotland Defence Growth Deal are also driving innovation across key sectors, and new Defence Technical Excellence Colleges that will help develop the skilled workforce needed for Scotland’s future defence and maritime industries.

The Ministry of Defence's interests in the space domain are to protect, maintain access to, and develop the space-based capabilities, infrastructure and services upon which the UK's national security, military effectiveness, and prosperity depend. Space capabilities, including satellite communications (SATCOM), intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), and position, navigation and timing (PNT), are essential enablers of the Integrated Force's ability to understand, communicate, move, and fight. Further, nearly 20% of national GDP is reliant on satellite services. As the space domain becomes increasingly contested, congested and competitive, the Ministry of Defence is committed to maintaining the UK's freedom of operation in this critical domain.

UK Space Command is undertaking detailed planning to establish the new Space Squadrons, including defining capability requirements and developing the structures necessary to support their delivery.

Work is ongoing to determine the workforce, infrastructure and resources required to bring these capabilities into service, and the Ministry of Defence will provide further updates as this work progresses.

UK Space Command is undertaking detailed planning to establish the new Space Squadrons, including defining capability requirements and developing the structures necessary to support their delivery.

Work is ongoing to determine the workforce, infrastructure and resources required to bring these capabilities into service, and the Ministry of Defence will provide further updates as this work progresses.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is developing a nationally separable, space-based Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) satellite constellation and supporting digital infrastructure through Programme ISTARI.

As part of the Programme, MOD has contracted for four Operational Concept Demonstrator (OCD) satellites, which will operate in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) as follows:

• The first satellite, TYCHE, launched on 14 August 2024, has an electro-optical imaging sensor with video capability to detect moving objects. Following on-orbit commissioning and testing, it was fully graduated to the MOD in December 2025.
• The second satellite TITANIA will explore data technologies and capabilities. It is expected to launch in 2026.
• JUNO is the third satellite and will have an advanced electro-optical sensor. It is expected to launch in 2028.
• The fourth satellite system is OBERON. This consists of two satellites with high-performance Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensors, which will enable 24/7 imagery collection even through cloud, night and in poor weather conditions. It is expected to launch in 2028.

Defence is developing the supporting digital infrastructure through the following investments:

• The MINERVA data hub will enable tasking and data collection for UK ISR satellites and will process and disseminate the collected data to those that require it.
• The PRIMUS ALPHA satellite ground station will be installed and commissioned at a UK site in 2027. A plan for the development of additional PRIMUS stations at other locations in the UK and overseas from 2028 onwards is currently being developed.
• Space Missions Operations Centres are in the process of being constructed. These centres will enable MOD to conduct missions involving MOD owned space vehicles and payloads.

In recognition of the growing air and missile threat, the Strategic Defence Review committed to enhance the UK’s homeland air and missile defences, with £790 million of new money for homeland IAMD subsequently announced in the Defence Investment Plan. This investment is focused on improving national air and missile defence Command and Control and Sensing capabilities, to make best use of our existing effectors and air defences. This funding includes investing in a National Air and Space Operations Centre (NASOC which fulfils the Integrated Air and Space Missile Defence Operations Centre (IASMDOC) capability. The NASOC will be critical to coordination of national response to any future air and missile attack.

NASOC funding will commence in the coming years with a view to it providing operational capability in the early 2030s. Whilst specifics cannot be disclosed to ensure protection of national security arrangements, the growing air and missile threat is central to our thinking and potential future investments. Artificial Intelligence (AI) may be considered by the NASOC Programme, in support of timely and efficient operational decision making. However, the scale and breadth of any potential AI employment is to be determined.

In recognition of the growing air and missile threat, the Strategic Defence Review committed to enhance the UK’s homeland air and missile defences, with £790 million of new money for homeland IAMD subsequently announced in the Defence Investment Plan. This investment is focused on improving national air and missile defence Command and Control and Sensing capabilities, to make best use of our existing effectors and air defences. This funding includes investing in a National Air and Space Operations Centre (NASOC which fulfils the Integrated Air and Space Missile Defence Operations Centre (IASMDOC) capability. The NASOC will be critical to coordination of national response to any future air and missile attack.

NASOC funding will commence in the coming years with a view to it providing operational capability in the early 2030s. Whilst specifics cannot be disclosed to ensure protection of national security arrangements, the growing air and missile threat is central to our thinking and potential future investments. Artificial Intelligence (AI) may be considered by the NASOC Programme, in support of timely and efficient operational decision making. However, the scale and breadth of any potential AI employment is to be determined.

In recognition of the growing air and missile threat, the Strategic Defence Review committed to enhance the UK’s homeland air and missile defences, with £790 million of new money for homeland IAMD subsequently announced in the Defence Investment Plan. This investment is focused on improving national air and missile defence Command and Control and Sensing capabilities, to make best use of our existing effectors and air defences. This funding includes investing in a National Air and Space Operations Centre (NASOC which fulfils the Integrated Air and Space Missile Defence Operations Centre (IASMDOC) capability. The NASOC will be critical to coordination of national response to any future air and missile attack.

NASOC funding will commence in the coming years with a view to it providing operational capability in the early 2030s. Whilst specifics cannot be disclosed to ensure protection of national security arrangements, the growing air and missile threat is central to our thinking and potential future investments. Artificial Intelligence (AI) may be considered by the NASOC Programme, in support of timely and efficient operational decision making. However, the scale and breadth of any potential AI employment is to be determined.

The operational design life of the SKYNET 6A satellite is 15 years.

The decision not to proceed with the SKYNET 6 Narrowband Satellite System procurement was taken once it was confirmed that alternative assured and resilient narrowband services will be available to meet future capability requirements.

Defence continues to develop options for a future Short Range Air Defence (SHORAD) capability with the Common Armoured Vehicle System informing the current planning assumptions. The SHORAD programme is considering lessons identified from contemporary conflicts and the evolving threat posed by uncrewed air systems. This work is separate to the UK’s Ballistic Missile Defence Capability.

The Defence Investment Plan identifies investment in a range of stand-off and long-range weapons to enhance the lethality of the Lightning Force, including investment of £460 million in the SPEAR 3 programme and up to £6.4 billion in wider munitions. In the interim until SPEAR 3 arrives, approvals have been given to proceed with a Foreign Military Sales procurement of the precision-guided munition, Small Diameter Bomb (SDB-II). This acquisition will provide the F-35 with an interim stand-off capability until the introduction of SPEAR-3 into service.

The Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) is a ground-based radar system that will provide 24/7, all-weather capabilities to detect, track, identify and characterise objects up to Geostationary Earth Orbit. DARC will require three permanent radar sites and a radar operations centre to provide 360-degree coverage: in Australia, the UK and the US. Construction of sites in Australia (Exmouth) and the US (IROC, Eglin) have been completed.

The USSF signed a contract with Northrop Grumman on 23 August 2024 for construction of the UK site starting April 2027.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has completed an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), including a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, to ensure that the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) project has minimal impact on the local skyline. The EIA is part of a Town Planning application that was submitted to the local planning authority in March 2026.

The Defence Electromagnetic Authority, working with the Office of Communications, has issued an initial Authority to Operate. MOD and the Civil Aviation Authority is completing the necessary safety of flight procedures for local airspace.

Through the Defence Investment Plan, £370 million has been allocated to support the Army’s ASGARD initiative. ASGARD is not a conventional acquisition project with individual lifecycle phases. Instead, it provides an enduring environment in which the Army can test, integrate and exploit capabilities as they mature.

As a result, at the completion of the scope associated with the £370 million allocation, ASGARD will not transition to a distinct programme phase. Instead, it will continue to operate as a persistent capability, enabling the development, integration, evaluation and exploitation of digital technologies by the Forward Land Forces in Estonia, and across the British Army.

Through the Defence Investment Plan, the department is investing £360 million into a new fast-Jet Training System, replacing the iconic but ageing Hawk aircraft.

The programme is ongoing and no final procurement decisions have been made.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 17 July 2026 to Question 17491:

The Defence Strategic Approach to AI is currently being developed and will be finalised by the end of 2026. As set out in the Defence Investment Plan, this will be accompanied by clear policy frameworks governing the delivery of 'Dependable AI' and the 'Responsible Use of AI' across Defence. This activity is already under way, and will build on the MOD's existing policy, governance and assurance arrangements - notably the Dependable AI JSP 936.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 July 2026 to Question 17792 to the hon. Member for South Shropshire (Mr. Stuart Anderson).

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-07-10/17792