Ministry of Defence
We protect the security, independence and interests of our country at home and abroad. We work with our allies and partners whenever possible. Our aim is to ensure that the armed forces have the training, equipment and support necessary for their work, and that we keep within budget.
Shadow Ministers / Spokeperson
Liberal Democrat
Baroness Smith of Newnham (LD - Life peer)Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Defence)
Conservative
James Cartlidge (Con - South Suffolk)Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
Scottish National Party
Dave Doogan (SNP - Angus and Perthshire Glens)Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Defence)
Green Party
Ellie Chowns (Green - North Herefordshire)Green Spokesperson (Defence)
Liberal Democrat
James MacCleary (LD - Lewes)Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Defence)
Junior Shadow Ministers / Deputy Spokesperson
Conservative
Baroness Goldie (Con - Life peer)Shadow Minister (Defence)
Earl of Minto (Con - Excepted Hereditary)
Shadow Minister (Defence)
Mark Francois (Con - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Shadow Minister (Defence)
Ministers of State
Lord Coaker (Lab - Life peer)Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Al Carns (Lab - Birmingham Selly Oak)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Luke Pollard (LAB - Plymouth Sutton and Devonport)
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State
Louise Sandher-Jones (Lab - North East Derbyshire)Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
10:30
This inquiry will examine the circumstances behind and the consequences of a major data breach in February 2022 from the …
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Land Autonomous Collaborative Platforms for the AH-64E Apache he plans …
These Regulations amend the Ministry of Defence Police (Conduct, Performance and Appeals Tribunals) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1087) (“the 2020 Regulations”), …
A Bill to establish, and confer functions on, the Armed Forces Commissioner; to abolish the office of Service Complaints Ombudsman; …
Ministry of Defence Commons Appearances
Oral Answers to Questions is a regularly scheduled appearance where the Secretary of State and junior minister will answer at the Dispatch Box questions from backbench MPs
Other Commons Chamber appearances can be:- Urgent Questions where the Speaker has selected a question to which a Minister must reply that day
- Adjornment Debates a 30 minute debate attended by a Minister that concludes the day in Parliament.
- Oral Statements informing the Commons of a significant development, where backbench MP's can then question the Minister making the statement.
Westminster Hall debates are performed in response to backbench MPs or e-petitions asking for a Minister to address a detailed issue
Written Statements are made when a current event is not sufficiently significant to require an Oral Statement, but the House is required to be informed.
Bills currently before Parliament
Ministry of Defence does not have Bills currently before Parliament
Acts of Parliament created in the 2024 Parliament
A Bill to establish, and confer functions on, the Armed Forces Commissioner; to abolish the office of Service Complaints Ombudsman; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 3rd September 2025 and was enacted into law.
Ministry of Defence - Secondary Legislation
Petitions
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
(100 in the last 7 days)
(23 in the last 7 days)
(15 in the last 7 days)
(15 in the last 7 days)
(13 in the last 7 days)
(100 in the last 7 days)
(23 in the last 7 days)
(4 in the last 7 days)
(9 in the last 7 days)
(15 in the last 7 days)
Departmental Select Committee
Defence Committee
Commons Select Committees are a formally established cross-party group of backbench MPs tasked with holding a Government department to account.
At any time there will be number of ongoing investigations into the work of the Department, or issues which fall within the oversight of the Department. Witnesses can be summoned from within the Government and outside to assist in these inquiries.
Select Committee findings are reported to the Commons, printed, and published on the Parliament website. The government then usually has 60 days to reply to the committee's recommendations.
11 Members of the Defence Committee
Defence Committee Member since 11th September 2024
Defence Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Defence Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Defence Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Defence Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Defence Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Defence Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Defence Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Defence Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Defence Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Defence Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Defence Committee: 24 Current Inquiries
Defence Committee: Previous Inquiries
50 most recent Written Questions
(View all written questions)The UK remains steadfast in its commitment to maintaining a presence in the Middle East, reassuring partners and contributing to regional security and stability. Central to this posture is the UK Maritime Component Command (UKMCC), located in Bahrain, with a footprint of c125 personnel, which commands and controls Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships. This also includes the MOD’s role in the Combined Maritime Forces framework and the delivery of training to regional partners.
The Royal Navy is evolving its approach to operations in the Middle East, focusing on modernising capabilities, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring basing and access for times of crisis. The RN’s modernisation programme has already delivered an autonomous mine countermeasures capability operating in the Gulf, which continues to innovate at pace. In terms of personnel footprint, the RN maintains a strong regional presence, including roles within US Fifth Fleet Task Forces in Bahrain, Loan Service personnel in Oman, RN embeds in the British Military Mission in Kuwait, and RN personnel advising on seabed warfare through the Ministry of Defence Saudi Armed Forces Programme (MODSAP) programme in Saudi Arabia.
The RN remains agile and ready to respond to emerging threats, deploying platforms to meet Defence Plan commitments and operational requirements, which are continuously reviewed.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The UK remains steadfast in its commitment to maintaining a presence in the Middle East, reassuring partners and contributing to regional security and stability. Central to this posture is the UK Maritime Component Command (UKMCC), located in Bahrain, with a footprint of c125 personnel, which commands and controls Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships. This also includes the MOD’s role in the Combined Maritime Forces framework and the delivery of training to regional partners.
The Royal Navy is evolving its approach to operations in the Middle East, focusing on modernising capabilities, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring basing and access for times of crisis. The RN’s modernisation programme has already delivered an autonomous mine countermeasures capability operating in the Gulf, which continues to innovate at pace. In terms of personnel footprint, the RN maintains a strong regional presence, including roles within US Fifth Fleet Task Forces in Bahrain, Loan Service personnel in Oman, RN embeds in the British Military Mission in Kuwait, and RN personnel advising on seabed warfare through the Ministry of Defence Saudi Armed Forces Programme (MODSAP) programme in Saudi Arabia.
The RN remains agile and ready to respond to emerging threats, deploying platforms to meet Defence Plan commitments and operational requirements, which are continuously reviewed.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
For reasons of operational security, we cannot provide details on the numbers of BriteStorm Electronic Warfare jamming systems procured by the Ministry of Defence.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Atlantic Bastion has only been allocated pre-concept funding to date, estimated at c£10 million. The Defence Investment Plan, when published, will set the funding envelope for the programme.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
HMS Lancaster has exceeded the 18 years lifespan she was originally built for and, with almost 35 years of outstanding service, she has reached her planned out of service date. She has been forward deployed to the Middle East for the last three years where her output has been exceptional.
Rather than seek to extend her safety certification further, the Royal Navy is commencing preparations for her final disposal while she is in Bahrain. This decision has maximised operational output whilst ensuring that the safety and wellbeing of the Ships Company is paramount. As is standard practice for decommissioning ships, any material or supplies on HMS Lancaster that can be used elsewhere in the fleet will be repurposed.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The UK-Mauritius Agreement, which, beyond assurances, represents legally binding obligations, robustly protects the national security of the UK and our allies, and ensures that the UK will continue to exercise all rights and authorities which are required for the long-term, secure and effective operation of the military base on Diego Garcia. Article 3(2) of the Agreement confirms that Mauritius is obliged not to undermine, prejudice or otherwise interfere with the operation of the military base on Diego Garcia, including unrestricted access for UK and US forces. This ensures that military operations will not be compromised in any way.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The preliminary plans for infrastructure upgrades at Rosyth Dockyard have been approved and industry has been engaged to begin processing the scheme design.
Once the scheme design is complete, final costs for the project will be negotiated. The work will include the requirement to deliver a Contingent Docking Facility at Rosyth Dockyard for HMS Dreadnought during its sea trials. The planned timescale for the provision of the Contingent Docking Facility will coincide with Dreadnought’s exit from Barrow.
For operational security reasons further details cannot be released as to do so could be used to undermine the security and capability of our Armed Forces.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Senior Responsible Officer for the Mechanised Infantry Boxer Programme is Martyn Williams, as published in the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Government Major Projects Portfolio transparency data.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nista-annual-report-2024-2025
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The current Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) of the Land Environment Tactical Communications and Information Systems (LETacCIS) Programme is Major General Mark Purves.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), has been considered as part of a suite of systems available for the AH-64E weapons load, providing the platform flexibility to engage a range of targets with a measured effect.
The procurement for UK AH-64E is ongoing with the capability due to be integrated and introduced on UK AH-64E by 2027. The potential for use on other platforms remains under review and no final procurement decisions have been made for these.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
There are zero FV432 or FV433 vehicles in service with the British Army.
None of the FV430 series of vehicles remain in service. These were modified under an Urgent Operational Requirement for operations in Iraq and subsequently re-designated as ‘BULLDOG’.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The scope of Project NIGHTFALL is to rapidly develop and produce, at scale, tactical ballistic missiles with a range of at least 500km, alongside associated mobile launchers.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I released a second written ministerial statement (WMS) regarding the Ajax programme on 18 December 2025. In a line with this WMS, I confirm that I will provide further updates to the House in due course.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Project NYX is a demonstrator to validate the concept of a Land Autonomous Collaborative Platform. Public information is available via the Defence Sourcing Portal, the Ministry of Defence’s tendering platform, and Find a Tender service.
The competition for Project NYX began on 28 November 2025 with the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire release. The Invitation to Tender will be issued week of 12 January 2026 and close 27 February 2026.
Completion will inform future procurement, with initial capability delivery expected from 2030. No decision has been made on platform numbers; these will depend on evolving strategies and requirements.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Project NYX is a demonstrator to validate the concept of a Land Autonomous Collaborative Platform. Public information is available via the Defence Sourcing Portal, the Ministry of Defence’s tendering platform, and Find a Tender service.
The competition for Project NYX began on 28 November 2025 with the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire release. The Invitation to Tender will be issued week of 12 January 2026 and close 27 February 2026.
Completion will inform future procurement, with initial capability delivery expected from 2030. No decision has been made on platform numbers; these will depend on evolving strategies and requirements.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Project NYX is a demonstrator to validate the concept of a Land Autonomous Collaborative Platform. Public information is available via the Defence Sourcing Portal, the Ministry of Defence’s tendering platform, and Find a Tender service.
The competition for Project NYX began on 28 November 2025 with the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire release. The Invitation to Tender will be issued week of 12 January 2026 and close 27 February 2026.
Completion will inform future procurement, with initial capability delivery expected from 2030. No decision has been made on platform numbers; these will depend on evolving strategies and requirements.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Project NYX is a demonstrator to validate the concept of a Land Autonomous Collaborative Platform. Public information is available via the Defence Sourcing Portal, the Ministry of Defence’s tendering platform, and Find a Tender service.
The competition for Project NYX began on 28 November 2025 with the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire release. The Invitation to Tender will be issued week of 12 January 2026 and close 27 February 2026.
Completion will inform future procurement, with initial capability delivery expected from 2030. No decision has been made on platform numbers; these will depend on evolving strategies and requirements.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The military base on Diego Garcia will continue to support the UK's joint operating posture in the Indo-Pacific and will retain its strategic utility for allied power projection across the Indian Ocean and Pacific region. The UK-Mauritius Agreement ensures that we retain full operational control of Diego Garcia, including security provisions which will protect the base for decades to come.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Secretary of State for Defence speaks regularly with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on a wide range of issues, including most recently on 10 December. We welcome US support of the UK-Mauritius Agreement, and this Government will continue to work closely with the US to ensure the base's operational effectiveness and that it remains a vital part of our security alliance well into the next century.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
This Government has reset the relationship with nuclear test veterans and the organisations that support them. We remain committed to listening to their concerns and working collaboratively to address them. The Ministry of Defence is looking at what information the Department holds regarding nuclear test veterans' medical records, and the scope of that exercise was set out in the Written Ministerial Statement on 30 June 2025. There are no plans to alter that scope and we will update the House when we are in a position to share findings.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
In response to the urgent question, I was referring to the Department’s decision to pause use of the Enhanced Combat Body Armour (ECBA) in January 2025 in response to safety concerns. In this case, I ordered immediate action to replace ECBA on the frontline by flying new body armour to units worldwide.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Atlantic Bastion is a portfolio of capabilities to enhance the UK’s ability to detect and act against undersea threats. Individual capabilities will have full operating capability dates as opposed to an overall date for Bastion. The Royal Navy intends to move as quickly as it can, within the bounds of UK commercial law, to bring new capabilities into service and enhance our ability to protect the UK and our allies.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
We are working flat out between now and the end of the year to finalise the Defence Investment Plan. I am sure the hon. Gentleman will appreciate the scale of the decisions that we need to make including on AJAX. He will also appreciate the scale of the problems that we face, including those to do with a programme of the last Government’s that over-committed, and was underfunded and unsuited to meeting the threats that we will face in the future.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Department has 41 direct Ministerial appointments, across seven entities. These are as follows:
Defence Industrial Joint Council
Name | Job title | Annual remuneration | Time commitment (per annum) | Expected end date |
Dr Charles Woodburn | Chair | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 15/04/2026 |
Dame Fiona Murray CMG CBE | Deputy Chair | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 29/04/2026 |
Michael Ord | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 29/04/2026 |
Kevin Craven | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 22/05/2026 |
Kata Escott CB | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 22/05/2026 |
David Lockwood OBE | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 22/05/2026 |
Gary Smith | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 05/06/2026 |
Craig Beddis | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 22/05/2026 |
Ned Baker | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 01/06/2026 |
Kerry Baker | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 22/05/2026 |
Joanne O'Doherty | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 01/06/2026 |
Paul Livingston CBE | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 22/05/2026 |
Andrew Kinniburgh | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 22/05/2026 |
Nick Sharpe | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 22/05/2026 |
Louis Mosley | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 22/05/2026 |
Mike Clancy | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 05/06/2026 |
Steve Wadey | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 22/05/2026 |
Tufan Erginbilgic | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 01/06/2026 |
Julian David OBE | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 22/05/2026 |
Graham Booth | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 22/05/2026 |
Defence Investors Advisory Group
Name | Job title | Annual remuneration | Time commitment (per annum) | Expected end date |
Kerry Baldwin | Co-Chair | £0 | 15 days | 31/03/2026 |
Dame Sharron White DBE | Co-Chair | £0 | 15 days | 31/03/2026 |
Three members: names have been omitted due to commercial sensitivity. | Member | £0 | 9 days | 31/03/2026 |
Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan
Name | Job title | Annual remuneration | Time commitment (per annum) | Expected end date |
The Rt Hon Lord Justice Charles Haddon-Cave | Chair | £256,000 | Full time | No fixed date |
LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme Independent Panel
Name | Job title | Annual remuneration | Time commitment (per annum) | Expected end date |
Lord Brian Paddick | Chair | £86,250 | 115 days | 02/02/2027 |
Alison Brown MBE | Member | £57,500 | 115 days | 14/05/2027 |
Francis Castle MBE | Member | £57,500 | 115 days | 14/05/2027 |
Dr Matthew Gould | Member | £57,500 | 115 days | 14/05/2027 |
Hannah Graf MBE | Member | £57,500 | 115 days | 14/05/2027 |
Craig Jones MBE | Member | £57,500 | 115 days | 14/05/2027 |
Caroline Paige MBE | Member | £57,500 | 115 days | 14/05/2027 |
Dr Annabell Poate-Joiner | Member | £57,500 | 115 days | 14/05/2027 |
Emma Riley | Member | £57,500 | 115 days | 14/05/2027 |
LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme Appeals Board
Name | Job title | Annual remuneration | Time commitment (per annum) | Expected end date |
Douglas Bosphore-Ward MBE | Chair | £37,500 | 50 days | 14/05/2027 |
Judith Henry | Member | £25,000 | 50 days | 14/05/2027 |
Rachael Ruxton | Member | £25,000 | 50 days | 14/05/2027 |
Tracey Myhill | Member | £25,000 | 50 days | 14/05/2027 |
Octric Semiconductors Ltd
Name | Job title | Annual remuneration | Time commitment (per annum) | Expected end date |
Graham Love | Interim Chair | £120,000 | 104 days | 13/09/2026 |
Strategic Advisor to the Secretary of State for Defence
Name | Job title | Annual remuneration | Time commitment (per annum) | Expected end date |
Prof Malcolm Chalmers | Adviser | £162,500 | 260 days | 03/02/2027 |
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Since publication of the press release titled “New robots lead the way in bomb disposal innovation” on 5 February 2025, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has undertaken a further three trials for land-based robot-assisted bomb disposal.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
For reasons of operational security, we cannot provide details on the numbers of BriteStorm Electronic Warfare jamming systems procured by the Ministry of Defence.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
For Ukrainian Operational Security reasons we are unable to provide the number of Altius 600M drones that have been ordered since March 2025.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
For Ukrainian Operational Security reasons we are unable to provide the number of Altius 700M drones that have been ordered since March 2025.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
F-35 aircraft are already equipped with the latest air-air weapons ASRAAM and AMRAAM and the latest air-to-surface weapon Paveway IV.
For future munitions I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided on 17 November 2025 to Questions 87990, 87995 and 88005 in the House of Commons.
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-11-04/87990
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Under Atlantic Bastion, announced in the Strategic Defence Review, the Royal Navy (RN) will be exploiting new technologies through a portfolio of crewed and uncrewed vehicles, sensors and nodes.
Helsing, who make the SG-1 Fathom, conducted a technology demonstration for the RN in December 2025. The Royal Navy are running a competition for Atlantic Net, which is the first phase of Atlantic Bastion, and in full adherence to commercial regulation, will conduct a fair and transparent assessment against peer proposals ahead of any contract award.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Since 23 July 2025, centrally held electronic systems show fewer than five personnel have had a hospital admission recorded since their first use of Ajax. None of these were related to Ajax, hearing or vibration.
In the same period, 27 personnel have had a hearing loss related read code entered into their electronic medical record since their first use of Ajax. However, the presence of read code does not imply either a long-term problem or that it has been caused by their use of Ajax. For any Service person their use of Ajax will be mixed with other potential sources of exposure. It is also possible that symptoms are not occupationally related.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
There are a number of measures and metrics used to capture veteran homelessness and rough sleeping, including metrics on temporary accommodation. However, it is important to note that none of these will capture every single case and with the transient nature of homelessness, the overall picture of veteran homelessness and rough sleeping is not complete.
However, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government does capture and report the number of households presenting to Local Authorities who are either experiencing or at risk of homelessness. This data includes households rough sleeping and in temporary accommodation, as well as capturing other household status. The most recent annual data release is for 2024-25 and shows that there were 2,180 veteran households at risk of or experiencing homelessness in England. This is 0.7% of all households in England and is steady with the previous year.
This Government is clear that one veteran rough sleeping is one too many. That is why we have committed an additional £12 million to ensure the continuation of the Reducing Veteran Homelessness programme. Op FORTITUDE will also be extended, putting the service that has already supported over 1,000 veterans on a sustainable footing. These programmes will deliver three years of support services across the UK for veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
This is in addition to the Government’s National Plan to End Homelessness. The Ministry of Defence contributed to this strategy including committing to ensuring that all councils are aware of service provision in their area to support veterans at risk of homelessness.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The National Armaments Director role is a Senior Civil Service (SCS) 4 role, the advertised range for the role was up to £400,000 base salary and an annual performance related payment of up to 60% of base salary.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The previous National Armaments Director (NAD) was the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) CEO Andy Start, now Deputy NAD. All previous remuneration for Mr Start since joining the Department in September 2022 is declared in the DE&S Annual Report and Accounts. This includes the following Performance Awards:
Financial Year | Value of Performance Award (£000) |
2024-25 | 160-165 |
2023-24 | 165-170 |
2022-23 | 90-95 (prorated) |
To date Mr Start has only ever received remuneration based upon his DE&S CEO contract of employment and no other bonuses have been paid to Mr Start whilst in the Department’s employ. No bonus or departure payment was made to Mr Start when he relinquished the role of NAD in October 2025.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The previous National Armaments Director (NAD) was the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) CEO Andy Start, now Deputy NAD. All previous remuneration for Mr Start since joining the Department in September 2022 is declared in the DE&S Annual Report and Accounts. This includes the following Performance Awards:
Financial Year | Value of Performance Award (£000) |
2024-25 | 160-165 |
2023-24 | 165-170 |
2022-23 | 90-95 (prorated) |
To date Mr Start has only ever received remuneration based upon his DE&S CEO contract of employment and no other bonuses have been paid to Mr Start whilst in the Department’s employ. No bonus or departure payment was made to Mr Start when he relinquished the role of NAD in October 2025.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence is committed to ensuring defence is an engine for growth. The Defence Industrial Strategy, published on 8 September 2025, clearly set out how we are making defence an engine for growth - investing more money in key defence areas and regions across the UK to create good jobs.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Defence Reform continues to make progress against its quarterly deliverables and across a variety of workstreams including the new ways of working between the four areas, design of the strategic cycles, modernised financial flows and agreed portfolio laydown. This will allow Defence Reform to finalise the unified Defence Operating model by the end of financial year 2025-26 for the next phase of implementation during financial year 2026-27. We will continue to keep Parliament updated on the progress of Defence Reform.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
We are working flat out between now and the end of the year to finalise the Defence Investment Plan. I am sure the Hon. Gentleman will appreciate the scale of the decisions that we need to make, including with AJAX. He will also appreciate the scale of the problems that we face, including those to do with a programme of the last Government’s that over-committed, and was underfunded and unsuited to meeting the threats that we will face in the future.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
A formal decision on the New Medium Helicopter (NMH) competition has not yet been made. The second stage of the NMH competition commenced on 27 February 2024 with the release of the Invitation to Negotiate to Airbus Helicopters UK, Leonardo Helicopters UK and Lockheed Martin UK.
Only Leonardo Helicopters UK elected to submit a tender which has been evaluated but since the competitive procurement process is still active, commercially sensitive information, including aircraft numbers, delivery timeline and value, cannot be confirmed.
Officials continue to consider the NMH business case as part of the Government’s approval process, with a decision to be made as part of the upcoming Defence Investment Plan.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
A formal decision on the New Medium Helicopter (NMH) competition has not yet been made. The second stage of the NMH competition commenced on 27 February 2024 with the release of the Invitation to Negotiate to Airbus Helicopters UK, Leonardo Helicopters UK and Lockheed Martin UK.
Only Leonardo Helicopters UK elected to submit a tender which has been evaluated but since the competitive procurement process is still active, commercially sensitive information, including aircraft numbers, delivery timeline and value, cannot be confirmed.
Officials continue to consider the NMH business case as part of the Government’s approval process, with a decision to be made as part of the upcoming Defence Investment Plan.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Following the decommissioning of HMS Lancaster, the Royal Navy will have seven frigates in service, one frigate (HMS KENT) is currently undergoing planned deep maintenance. New Type 26 and Type 31 frigates are in build in Scotland currently.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The key officials in the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Ajax Reporting Chain are as follows:
1* - Head Combat Vehicles, Simon Pearson
2* - Director Land Environment, Major General Lizzie Faithfull-Davies
3* - Director General Core, Lieutenant General Anna-Lee Reilly
3* - DE&S CEO, Lieutenant General Simon Hamilton
4* - National Armaments Director, Rupert Pearce
The 2* Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) is Chris Bowbrick, who sits within Army HQ, not DE&S.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the noble Lord to the answer given by my right hon. Friend, the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, in the House of Commons on 11 December 2025 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge), in response to Question 96770 about the forward plans for the Type 45 Destroyer's Power Improvement Project.
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-12-03/96770
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Department has not awarded any contracts to STARK to date.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Department has not awarded any contracts to STARK to date.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As partners we have maintained that we remain open to other partners joining. The UK and our GCAP partners, Italy and Japan, are focused on delivering this vital military capability at pace.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal Navy will be deploying new undersea warfare technology as part of Atlantic Net, a new initiative that will see the Royal Navy rapidly field and iterate undersea warfare technology in collaboration with a commercial mission partner or partners. The competition for the first Atlantic Net commercial competition closed on 26 Nov 2025. I know the Hon. Gentleman will recall from his time as a Defence Minister that public disclosure on the companies that have submitted proposals, or a breakdown of firms and capabilities involved would prejudice fair competition.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal Navy will be deploying new undersea warfare technology as part of Atlantic Net, a new initiative that will see the Royal Navy rapidly field and iterate undersea warfare technology in collaboration with a commercial mission partner or partners. The competition for the first Atlantic Net commercial competition closed on 26 Nov 2025. I know the Hon. Gentleman will recall from his time as a Defence Minister that public disclosure on the companies that have submitted proposals, or a breakdown of firms and capabilities involved would prejudice fair competition.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal Navy will be deploying new undersea warfare technology as part of Atlantic Net, a new initiative that will see the Royal Navy rapidly field and iterate undersea warfare technology in collaboration with a commercial mission partner or partners. The competition for the first Atlantic Net commercial competition closed on 26 Nov 2025. I know the Hon. Gentleman will recall from his time as a Defence Minister that public disclosure on the companies that have submitted proposals, or a breakdown of firms and capabilities involved would prejudice fair competition.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)