Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026 to Question 23243 on Defence: Procurement, at what stage is the second procurement phase as at 1 October 2026.

The Second Procurement Phase (2PP) is a programmatic period (2025-2034) that captures the next 10-year phase of the UK F‑35 Lightning Programme. It does not attract funds but reports against the aggregate of funds allocated to the projects contained within it. The Defence Investment Plan committed £2.2 billion over the next four years for the procurement of F‑35 aircraft to expand the UK's fleet of stealth fighter jets.