Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, (a) what definition his Department has set for initial operating capability for the new national flagship announced on 30 May 2021; and (b) what are the estimated dates for (i) initial operating capability and (ii) full operating capability for the programme.
The design competition for the National Flagship is ongoing and no winning bidder has yet been selected. Until the design competition has concluded, and a manufacture contract has been awarded, it is not possible to set initial or full operating capability dates or the definitions of those milestones.