Ministry of Defence

The UK maintains credible contingency plans for the Overseas Territories, and has strategically located bases in Gibraltar, the Falkland Islands, Ascension Island, the Sovereign Base Areas on the island of Cyprus, and the joint UK/US base on Diego Garcia. These plans are kept under review to ensure they are commensurate to the threat.

While the future of the Merthyr Tydfil factory is a matter for General Dynamics Land Systems UK, I have frequent engagement with representatives from General Dynamics, the Welsh Government and the local MPs regarding the Ajax platform.

There is currently no backlog for unclaimed deferred pensions.

The Ministry of Defence continues to conduct tracing exercises 60 working days after the pension due date to establish the member's address and invite them to claim; we continue to explore additional mechanisms to identify individuals who qualify for an unclaimed deferred pension.

Responsibility for military memorials is split between several organisations, depending on the type and location of the memorial.

Across the globe, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission maintains 23,000 war memorials and war cemeteries commemorating 1.7 million commonwealth casualties who died during the First and Second World Wars. During the Financial Year 2024-25, the Ministry of Defence contributed £56.3 million Grant in Aid funding to support this core commemoration to a high standard, sometimes in inhospitable locations.

Additionally, there are many military memorials, both within the UK and abroad, which have been established, and are owned by institutions such as local authorities, charities, churches, museums, schools, businesses and private individuals. The care and maintenance of such memorials are the sole responsibility of the owner.

Project GRAYBURN is its concept phase. One of the primary outputs of this phase will be user requirements. These will consider the full range of performance characteristics including maximum weight and coating requirements.

Project GRAYBURN is its concept phase. One of the primary outputs of this phase will be user requirements. These will consider the full range of performance characteristics including maximum weight and coating requirements.

Project GRAYBURN is its concept phase. One of the primary outputs of this phase will be user requirements. These will consider the full range of performance characteristics including maximum weight and coating requirements.

No final decision has yet been made to award the Army Collective Training Service contract to become the Army’s Strategic Training Partner to Raytheon Systems UK. This decision will be made in due course following consideration of the programme’s Full Business Case. As The Full Business Case has not yet been finalised it would be inappropriate to release cost information at this stage.

The Army Collective Training Service contract is not an outsourcing of Army training. Many contractors already support Army training, including Raytheon Systems UK. If awarded, the Army Collective Training Service contract will consolidate many of these existing contracts. The Army, in partnership with the Strategic Training Partner, will transform the support and delivery of collective training while maintaining responsibility for delivery. All tenderers underwent security assessments during prequalification and as part of the tender evaluation, in line with Defence and Security Public Contract Regulations 2011.

On 13 June 2025 the Chief Secretary to the Treasury confirmed, during a visit to Leonardo in Edinburgh, that the Ministry of Defence (MOD) had released over £200 million of funding towards the production and integration of the innovative European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk2 radar for the RAF Typhoon. This commercial authority for Industry to start spending ahead of the full contract award was used to protect critical path activities whilst MOD and Industry negotiated the full contract.

On 22 January 2026 the Secretary of State for Defence visited Leonardo in Edinburgh to confirm the award of the full production contract between the MOD and BAE Systems, Leonardo UK and Parker Meggitt, valued at £453 million. This contract is for the manufacture and delivery of 40 ECRS Mk2 Radars. Radar deliveries will support timescales to bring ECRS Mk2 into service with the RAF by the end of this decade.

Challenger 3 is the centrepiece of the British Army’s armoured modernisation programme and will deliver a step change in lethality, survivability and digital integration.

The Department continues to explore export opportunities for Challenger 3 and its capabilities under the Land Industrial Strategy.

The Army and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory have established an enduring research programme to assess the benefits of equipping elements of the armoured vehicle fleet with a range of capabilities, including enhanced lethality. As part of this work, the M230LF is being considered alongside other medium‑calibre cannon options available from industry.

The Army and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory have established an enduring research programme to assess the benefits of equipping elements of the armoured vehicle fleet with a range of capabilities, including enhanced lethality. As part of this work, the M230LF is being considered alongside other medium‑calibre cannon options available from industry.

The first 100 Ajax vehicles were manufactured in Spain with most of the assembly in Spain. These vehicles were not identified as being related to Question 105104 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement as they are not in service. No units are equipped with the first 100 Ajax-family vehicles manufactured.

The first 100 Ajax vehicles were manufactured in Spain with most of the assembly in Spain. These vehicles were not identified as being related to Question 105104 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement as they are not in service. No units are equipped with the first 100 Ajax-family vehicles manufactured.

The Ministry of Defence offers a very broad range of International Defence Training to our partners. Information regarding the provision of training to the US Armed Forces is therefore spread across a range of sources and providers across Defence. It is taking time to collate the required information to answer the right hon. Member's Question. I will write to him when the information is available, and a copy of this letter will be placed in the Library of The House.

It has been UK policy for decades to neither confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons at any given location.

The Type 83 concept is currently under review against the Royal Navy’s Hybrid Navy Strategy. Future business case approval remains subject to the Defence Investment Plan.

In 2023, the Ministry of Defence procured two MineWolf MW370 systems which were donated to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The British Army uses various systems to deliver mine and route clearance capability, but for operational security considerations, details have been withheld.

The information requested is not centrally held, and could only be collected and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost. There is no one identified budget for three sites, the officials would have to go into each individual item of expenditure.

The Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) sets out steps to develop a more resilient UK industrial base and policies capable of adapting and surging to address emerging priorities and demands. It details steps to enhance the resilience of the industrial base and improve the readiness of supply chains. This includes regularly assessing the scalability and resilience of production for all major procurements and strengthening supply chain data and enhancing resilience of critical and cross-cutting supply chains (page 76, policies 6.2.2.3 and 6.2.3.1). Central to this is the Defence Supply Chain Capability Programme (DSCCP) which is pivotal to ensuring operational readiness and resilience across Defence and has scoped the work required to address critical minerals and component supply within Defence.

The autonomous systems are identified as a priority sub-sector in the DIS which include combat air, complex weapons, directed energy weapons and next-generation land and maritime capabilities.

The Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) sets out steps to develop a more resilient UK industrial base and policies capable of adapting and surging to address emerging priorities and demands. It details steps to enhance the resilience of the industrial base and improve the readiness of supply chains. This includes regularly assessing the scalability and resilience of production for all major procurements and strengthening supply chain data and enhancing resilience of critical and cross-cutting supply chains (page 76, policies 6.2.2.3 and 6.2.3.1). Central to this is the Defence Supply Chain Capability Programme (DSCCP) which is pivotal to ensuring operational readiness and resilience across Defence and has scoped the work required to address critical minerals and component supply within Defence.

The autonomous systems are identified as a priority sub-sector in the DIS which include combat air, complex weapons, directed energy weapons and next-generation land and maritime capabilities.

As at 22 January 2026, the Ministry of Defence has paid General Dynamics Land Systems UK £4.664 billion in line with contractual obligations for the Ajax programme.

Defence continues to manage its capabilities and programmes to ensure they are not unnecessarily impacted or delayed whilst the upcoming Defence Investment Plan (DIP) is developed. The Department is working flat out to deliver the DIP, which will be published as soon as possible. The DIP is the first time in 18 years Defence has completed a single, comprehensive review of programmes and is backed by the Government’s largest sustained increase in defence investment since the end of the Cold War, spending £270 billion on defence in this Parliament alone.

Defence continues to manage its capabilities and programmes to ensure they are not unnecessarily impacted or delayed whilst the upcoming Defence Investment Plan (DIP) is developed. The Department is working flat out to deliver the DIP, which will be published as soon as possible. The DIP is the first time in 18 years Defence has completed a single, comprehensive review of programmes and is backed by the Government’s largest sustained increase in defence investment since the end of the Cold War, spending £270 billion on defence in this Parliament alone.

Defence continues to manage its capabilities and programmes to ensure they are not unnecessarily impacted or delayed whilst the upcoming Defence Investment Plan (DIP) is developed. The Department is working flat out to deliver the DIP, which will be published as soon as possible. The DIP is the first time in 18 years Defence has completed a single, comprehensive review of programmes and is backed by the Government’s largest sustained increase in defence investment since the end of the Cold War, spending £270 billion on defence in this Parliament alone.

Defence continues to manage its capabilities and programmes to ensure they are not unnecessarily impacted or delayed whilst the upcoming Defence Investment Plan (DIP) is developed. The Department is working flat out to deliver the DIP, which will be published as soon as possible. The DIP is the first time in 18 years Defence has completed a single, comprehensive review of programmes and is backed by the Government’s largest sustained increase in defence investment since the end of the Cold War, spending £270 billion on defence in this Parliament alone.

Defence continues to manage its capabilities and programmes to ensure they are not unnecessarily impacted or delayed whilst the upcoming Defence Investment Plan (DIP) is developed. The Department is working flat out to deliver the DIP, which will be published as soon as possible. The DIP is the first time in 18 years Defence has completed a single, comprehensive review of programmes and is backed by the Government’s largest sustained increase in defence investment since the end of the Cold War, spending £270 billion on defence in this Parliament alone.

Defence continues to manage its capabilities and programmes to ensure they are not unnecessarily impacted or delayed whilst the upcoming Defence Investment Plan (DIP) is developed. The Department is working flat out to deliver the DIP, which will be published as soon as possible. The DIP is the first time in 18 years Defence has completed a single, comprehensive review of programmes and is backed by the Government’s largest sustained increase in defence investment since the end of the Cold War, spending £270 billion on defence in this Parliament alone.

Defence continues to manage its capabilities and programmes to ensure they are not unnecessarily impacted or delayed whilst the upcoming Defence Investment Plan (DIP) is developed. The Department is working flat out to deliver the DIP, which will be published as soon as possible. The DIP is the first time in 18 years Defence has completed a single, comprehensive review of programmes and is backed by the Government’s largest sustained increase in defence investment since the end of the Cold War, spending £270 billion on defence in this Parliament alone.

Defence continues to manage its capabilities and programmes to ensure they are not unnecessarily impacted or delayed whilst the upcoming Defence Investment Plan (DIP) is developed. The Department is working flat out to deliver the DIP, which will be published as soon as possible. The DIP is the first time in 18 years Defence has completed a single, comprehensive review of programmes and is backed by the Government’s largest sustained increase in defence investment since the end of the Cold War, spending £270 billion on defence in this Parliament alone.

Defence continues to manage its capabilities and programmes to ensure they are not unnecessarily impacted or delayed whilst the upcoming Defence Investment Plan (DIP) is developed. The Department is working flat out to deliver the DIP, which will be published as soon as possible. The DIP is the first time in 18 years Defence has completed a single, comprehensive review of programmes and is backed by the Government’s largest sustained increase in defence investment since the end of the Cold War, spending £270 billion on defence in this Parliament alone.

Defence continues to manage its capabilities and programmes to ensure they are not unnecessarily impacted or delayed whilst the upcoming Defence Investment Plan (DIP) is developed. The Department is working flat out to deliver the DIP, which will be published as soon as possible. The DIP is the first time in 18 years Defence has completed a single, comprehensive review of programmes and is backed by the Government’s largest sustained increase in defence investment since the end of the Cold War, spending £270 billion on defence in this Parliament alone.

Defence continues to manage its capabilities and programmes to ensure they are not unnecessarily impacted or delayed whilst the upcoming Defence Investment Plan (DIP) is developed. The Department is working flat out to deliver the DIP, which will be published as soon as possible. The DIP is the first time in 18 years Defence has completed a single, comprehensive review of programmes and is backed by the Government’s largest sustained increase in defence investment since the end of the Cold War, spending £270 billion on defence in this Parliament alone.

Defence continues to manage its capabilities and programmes to ensure they are not unnecessarily impacted or delayed whilst the upcoming Defence Investment Plan (DIP) is developed. The Department is working flat out to deliver the DIP, which will be published as soon as possible. The DIP is the first time in 18 years Defence has completed a single, comprehensive review of programmes and is backed by the Government’s largest sustained increase in defence investment since the end of the Cold War, spending £270 billion on defence in this Parliament alone.

The Army has provided a one-off payment of £240,000 to the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) to initiate development of the undergraduate drone degree. This funding enabled NMITE to recruit academic staff and design the course which will offer students the opportunity to learn cutting-edge drones technology driven by lessons from Ukraine.

On current plans, the Army intends to sponsor serving-military personnel on the three year degree and multiple personnel on shorter modular courses. These costs will be met through existing Defence personnel development budgets, in line with routine investment in our people through training and apprenticeships.

The Army will continue to support personnel undertaking this degree as long as the course remains relevant and no suitable alternative exists elsewhere in the UK. This supports the Army’s wider ambition to upskill hundreds of personnel in drone technology over time.

Longer term, the vision is to replicate this model in additional UK locations where there is a strong cluster of military, academia, and the drone industry.

NMITE, as the accredited provider, is responsible for funding and delivering the course, including any future cohorts. As NMITE is an independent higher education provider, the Ministry of Defence does not hold details of NMITE’s own operating or delivery costs.

The Army has provided a one-off payment of £240,000 to the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) to initiate development of the undergraduate drone degree. This funding enabled NMITE to recruit academic staff and design the course which will offer students the opportunity to learn cutting-edge drones technology driven by lessons from Ukraine.

On current plans, the Army intends to sponsor serving-military personnel on the three year degree and multiple personnel on shorter modular courses. These costs will be met through existing Defence personnel development budgets, in line with routine investment in our people through training and apprenticeships.

The Army will continue to support personnel undertaking this degree as long as the course remains relevant and no suitable alternative exists elsewhere in the UK. This supports the Army’s wider ambition to upskill hundreds of personnel in drone technology over time.

Longer term, the vision is to replicate this model in additional UK locations where there is a strong cluster of military, academia, and the drone industry.

NMITE, as the accredited provider, is responsible for funding and delivering the course, including any future cohorts. As NMITE is an independent higher education provider, the Ministry of Defence does not hold details of NMITE’s own operating or delivery costs.

The Army has provided a one-off payment of £240,000 to the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) to initiate development of the undergraduate drone degree. This funding enabled NMITE to recruit academic staff and design the course which will offer students the opportunity to learn cutting-edge drones technology driven by lessons from Ukraine.

On current plans, the Army intends to sponsor serving-military personnel on the three year degree and multiple personnel on shorter modular courses. These costs will be met through existing Defence personnel development budgets, in line with routine investment in our people through training and apprenticeships.

The Army will continue to support personnel undertaking this degree as long as the course remains relevant and no suitable alternative exists elsewhere in the UK. This supports the Army’s wider ambition to upskill hundreds of personnel in drone technology over time.

Longer term, the vision is to replicate this model in additional UK locations where there is a strong cluster of military, academia, and the drone industry.

NMITE, as the accredited provider, is responsible for funding and delivering the course, including any future cohorts. As NMITE is an independent higher education provider, the Ministry of Defence does not hold details of NMITE’s own operating or delivery costs.

The Army has provided a one-off payment of £240,000 to the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) to initiate development of the undergraduate drone degree. This funding enabled NMITE to recruit academic staff and design the course which will offer students the opportunity to learn cutting-edge drones technology driven by lessons from Ukraine.

On current plans, the Army intends to sponsor serving-military personnel on the three year degree and multiple personnel on shorter modular courses. These costs will be met through existing Defence personnel development budgets, in line with routine investment in our people through training and apprenticeships.

The Army will continue to support personnel undertaking this degree as long as the course remains relevant and no suitable alternative exists elsewhere in the UK. This supports the Army’s wider ambition to upskill hundreds of personnel in drone technology over time.

Longer term, the vision is to replicate this model in additional UK locations where there is a strong cluster of military, academia, and the drone industry.

NMITE, as the accredited provider, is responsible for funding and delivering the course, including any future cohorts. As NMITE is an independent higher education provider, the Ministry of Defence does not hold details of NMITE’s own operating or delivery costs.

The Army has provided a one-off payment of £240,000 to the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) to initiate development of the undergraduate drone degree. This funding enabled NMITE to recruit academic staff and design the course which will offer students the opportunity to learn cutting-edge drones technology driven by lessons from Ukraine.

On current plans, the Army intends to sponsor serving-military personnel on the three year degree and multiple personnel on shorter modular courses. These costs will be met through existing Defence personnel development budgets, in line with routine investment in our people through training and apprenticeships.

The Army will continue to support personnel undertaking this degree as long as the course remains relevant and no suitable alternative exists elsewhere in the UK. This supports the Army’s wider ambition to upskill hundreds of personnel in drone technology over time.

Longer term, the vision is to replicate this model in additional UK locations where there is a strong cluster of military, academia, and the drone industry.

NMITE, as the accredited provider, is responsible for funding and delivering the course, including any future cohorts. As NMITE is an independent higher education provider, the Ministry of Defence does not hold details of NMITE’s own operating or delivery costs.

Paid advertising on X was suspended in April 2023 following a SAFE Framework assessment. X is currently used only to communicate policies and public services. This incurs a small annual cost where it is appropriate for a channel to have a Premium subscription, but total figures for this are not held centrally.

The Ministry of Defence has not entered into any contracts with X or xAI and therefore has recorded no contract spend with the company. Any official Defence use of social media or AI is subject to a range of policies relating to acceptable and responsible use, including the responsible AI policy framework set out in the Dependable AI Joint Services Publication 936.

The Ministry of Defence does not routinely collate information on specific words contained within role descriptions; collating this information would come at disproportionate cost.

The Department’s accounts are published annually and made public; there are no plans to provide a further breakdown of the data to include, among other things, an estimate of expenditure relating to equality, diversity and inclusion.

There are approximately 12,300 United States Military and Civilian Defence personnel in the UK at various defence sites and 11,300 dependants and spouses.

The UK does not place any restrictions regarding the numbers of US military forces in the UK. It is up to the US to determine the number of personnel it stations in the UK at any particular time. However, significant adjustments in the nature or scale of the US footprint would be subject to discussions between the UK and US Governments.

The Defence Secretary speaks to his colleagues on a range of issues affecting our national and international security, including the High North.

As noted by the Defence Secretary last week, one UK military officer joined a reconnaissance visit to Greenland, in an observational capacity, at the request of the Danish Government. This was not a deployment of forces to Greenland, but a military recce ahead of future Danish-led exercise activity. They have now returned to Copenhagen, where they are based, following conclusion of the recce.