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Written Question
Ajax Vehicles: LE TacCIS Programme
Tuesday 6th December 2022

Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Islwyn)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral evidence by Charlie Forte to the Public Accounts Committee on the Digital Defence Strategy on 14 November 2022, HC 72; what steps he is taking to ensure that technology ordered for individual pieces of equipment for Morpheus is not restricted by a lack of digital capabilities when it is integrated with AJAX.

Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

The component that caused MORPHEUS to be delayed, as briefed to the Public Accounts Committee on 14 November 2022, is the Evolve to Open (EvO) element, which will reduce vendor lock-in to General Dynamics Mission Systems UK.

The delivery of MORPHEUS is not a requirement for the Armoured Cavalry Programme to achieve Full Operating Capability. As planned, AJAX will be integrated with the latest version of Bowman and will be upgraded to MORPHEUS alongside other in-service platforms.

The MOD will continue to meet all of its operational requirements, providing secure Battlefield Communication and Information Systems (CIS) until MORPHEUS is fielded.


Written Question
Ajax Vehicles: LE TacCIS Programme
Tuesday 6th December 2022

Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Islwyn)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans for Morpheus to be fitted to Ajax vehicles.

Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

The component that caused MORPHEUS to be delayed, as briefed to the Public Accounts Committee on 14 November 2022, is the Evolve to Open (EvO) element, which will reduce vendor lock-in to General Dynamics Mission Systems UK.

The delivery of MORPHEUS is not a requirement for the Armoured Cavalry Programme to achieve Full Operating Capability. As planned, AJAX will be integrated with the latest version of Bowman and will be upgraded to MORPHEUS alongside other in-service platforms.

The MOD will continue to meet all of its operational requirements, providing secure Battlefield Communication and Information Systems (CIS) until MORPHEUS is fielded.


Written Question
Ajax Vehicles: LE TacCIS Programme
Tuesday 6th December 2022

Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Islwyn)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral evidence by Charlie Forte to the Public Accounts Committee on 14 November 2022, HC 727, which component of Morpheus is causing delays to installation in Ajax.

Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

The component that caused MORPHEUS to be delayed, as briefed to the Public Accounts Committee on 14 November 2022, is the Evolve to Open (EvO) element, which will reduce vendor lock-in to General Dynamics Mission Systems UK.

The delivery of MORPHEUS is not a requirement for the Armoured Cavalry Programme to achieve Full Operating Capability. As planned, AJAX will be integrated with the latest version of Bowman and will be upgraded to MORPHEUS alongside other in-service platforms.

The MOD will continue to meet all of its operational requirements, providing secure Battlefield Communication and Information Systems (CIS) until MORPHEUS is fielded.


Written Question
Electronic Warfare: Inflation
Tuesday 6th December 2022

Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Islwyn)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral evidence by David Williams to the Public Accounts Committee on 14 November 2022, HC 727, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of inflation on the delivery of (a) Morpheus, (b) Ajax and (c) other projects.

Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

We continue to monitor the impact of inflation on the Department's budget. Inflation remains a pressing concern for Defence and we are managing its impact through new and existing controls, including a greater use of index-linked fixed price contracts and forward purchasing of foreign currency.

Additionally our unreserved contingency funding will also help offset this pressure.


Written Question
Electronic Warfare: Reserve Forces
Monday 5th December 2022

Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Islwyn)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral evidence by Lieutenant General Tom Copinger-Syme CBE to the Public Accounts Committee on 14 November 2022, HC 727, how many unpaid reservists are working on the Digital Strategy for Defence as of 29 November 2022.

Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

Reservists play an important part in the delivery of the outcomes detailed in the current Digital Strategy for Defence. However, the number of Reserve personnel employed in this domain is being withheld, as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.


Written Question
Fleet Solid Support Ships: Shipbuilding
Friday 2nd December 2022

Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Islwyn)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2022 to Question 61035 on Fleet Solid Support Ships: Shipbuilding, if he will include an enforceable clause in the contract requiring that a significant proportion of the build work for the Fleet Solid Support manufacturing contract will be completed in the UK.

Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 29 November 2022 to Question number 95799 to the right hon. Member for North Durham (Kevan Jones).


Written Question
Elbit Systems UK: Defence Equipment
Monday 14th November 2022

Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Islwyn)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Elbit Systems UK Ltd will continue to provide the detect and destroy system for the British Army.

Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

I am answering this question on the assumption that the hon. Member referring to the Dismounted Joint Fires Integrator system, which is currently being developed with Elbit Systems UK Ltd.

The system design and way ahead is currently under review by the MOD. The Department is working with the company to take the system design through its Critical Design Review, after which a decision will be made on the way forward based on the proposed delivery plan.


Written Question
Elbit Systems UK: Electronic Warfare
Monday 14th November 2022

Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Islwyn)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Elbit Systems UK Ltd provide electronic warfare capabilities for his Department as of 8 November 2022.

Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

Elbit Systems UK provide Electronic Warfare capabilities as part of a consortium with Babcock and QinetiQ, for the Maritime Electronic Warfare System Integrated Capability (MEWSIC) programme announced in November 2021.


Written Question
Elbit Systems UK: LE TacCIS Programme
Monday 14th November 2022

Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Islwyn)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Elbit Systems UK Ltd will continue to provide the MORPHEUS Battlefield Management Application.

Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

The Battlefield Management Application (BMA) was delivered under the terms of the contract with Elbit, which expired on the 30 April 2022. As all obligations had been met, there was no requirement to extend this contract further.

The Ministry of Defence is actively considering how best to deliver the totality of the MORPHEUS project, including the delivery of a number of subsequent capability elements necessary for a fielded system, including the BMA.


Written Question
Elbit Systems UK: Navy
Monday 7th November 2022

Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Islwyn)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons Elbit Systems UK Ltd was removed from the delivery of the Project Selborne contract.

Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

Negotiations are currently underway regarding Elbit Systems UK's departure from Project Selborne, therefore I am unable to comment further due to commercial sensitivities.