Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government when Tempest (Future Combat Air System-FCAS) is due to enter service.

The 2021 Defence Command Paper said that we will invest more than £2 billion out to 2025. This is part of a UK budget of over £10 billion over the next ten years, although the ultimate amount we invest will depend on key programme choices.

We are now in the Concept and Assessment Phase (2021-25), during which key work is being undertaken to define and begin design of the capability we require. The design of the aircraft will be a key factor in determining the number we seek to acquire and this should be clearer by the end of the Concept and Assessment Phase.