Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made an assessment of the merits of converting the UK's two aircraft carriers to catapult-and-arrest configuration.

The Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers operate the F-35B Lightning fighter aircraft, which does not require Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment. The Royal Navy's Maritime Aviation Transformation Strategy will expand the deployment of uncrewed air systems in Royal Navy ships, including the aircraft carriers.

The Strategic Defence Review will consider opportunities for modernisation and transformation, and greater productivity, including through the rapid and consistent application of Digital Age technologies. As new technologies develop, it is possible that some uncrewed systems would require specific Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment. Should this become the case, balance of investment decisions would be made to ensure that the Royal Navy is optimised to gain the most benefit from uncrewed systems.