Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress his Department has made on implementing the New Style of Information Technology Deployed Programme.

The programme achieved Acceptance into Service, and declaration of Initial Operating Capability (IOC) in the Land Environment in March 2024. In the last 12 months the programme has released an updated Operational Network (OpNET) capability with significantly enhanced build software. This is currently being deployed across the land environment and will facilitate the withdrawal of legacy systems from the land environment before the end of 2025.

Following installation of OpNET to both Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers, the programme is now focussed on extending this capability across the Rest of the Fleet. During financial year 2024-25 OpNET was installed to RFA TIDEFORCE, HMS SUTHERLAND, and HMS SCOTT. Plans are in place for six further installations during the current financial year.