Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the comments by the Minister for Veterans and People in the Opposition Day Debate entitled Defence, Column 267, 24 March 2026, when the 20 uncrewed surface vessels will be in service.

As part of Project Beehive, the Royal Navy has ordered 20 uncrewed surface vessels under a contract worth £12.3 million. The fleet of 20 vessels will be used by the Coastal Forces Squadron and 47 Commando Royal Marines for operations, training and development activities to help set the foundation for further uses of autonomous and uncrewed technology.