Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the expected increase in mass and lethality by transitioning to uncrewed and autonomous capabilities.

The Strategic Defence Review set out a shift towards greater use of autonomy and Artificial Intelligence within the UK's conventional forces, providing greater accuracy, lethality and cheaper capabilities. The Defence Investment Plan states that this transformation will deliver a cheaper capability, providing the Integrated Force with greater mass and increased lethality. The Defence Investment Plan further states that this shift supports an increase in warfighting readiness and lethality, significantly increasing mass. Defence is investing over £5 billion on autonomous systems to enable this transformation by 2030. This investment includes the Hybrid Navy Fleet, Uncrewed Ground Vehicles and Collaborative Combat Aircraft amongst others.