Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress his Department has made on the Land Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance programme.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Land Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) programme will deliver a suite of new sensor systems and enable a digitalised Army, by fusing data sources and ensuring capacity for effective and faster decision-making. At the core of the programme is project ZODIAC, which will provide the digital infrastructure required to network our sensors into a fused intelligence picture that is displayed across the network and automate our intelligence collection and analytical processes.

The ZODIAC Minimum Viable Product was delivered to 3 (UK) Division in 2024. Following a period of continuous development, enabled by the agile nature of the project, it will deliver the backbone of the Divisional ISTAR system for the forthcoming Warfighter Exercise in the US in May 2025.

The TIQUILA project will provide a new Uncrewed Air System (UAS) to support Brigade and Divisional Operations. It has now achieved its Initial Operating Capability, delivering three trained and equipped detachments into the Joint Aviation Command (JAC). TIQUILA is on schedule to reach Full Operating Capability by mid-2026, which will deliver a further 21 detachments that are fully integrated into the ZODIAC system.

Under TIQUILA's spiral upgrade programme, platforms will be fitted with resilient hardware and Long-Range Antennas, enabling them to operate in Global Navigation Satellite Systems-denied environments with greater reach.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2024 to Question 16468 on LE TacCIS programme, what the cost is of the Morpheus communications programme as of 5 December 2024.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

As of 5 December 2024, total expenditure for the MORPHEUS project is c£828 million.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has imposed (a) financial penalties and (b) adjustments to contract terms with General Dynamics in relation to the delay of the MORPHEUS project within the Land Environment Tactical Communication and Information Systems programme.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The MORPHEUS Evolve to Open Transition Partner (EvO TP) contract with General Dynamics Missions Systems (UK) (GDMS(UK)), which was focused on evolving the proprietary Bowman system, was concluded in December 2023. Commercial confidentiality precludes providing the specific details of the arrangements made, however the Department can provide assurance that these arrangements have been verified by both HM Treasury and Cabinet Office as representing the best value for money approach for the taxpayer.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2024 to Question 16468 on LE TacCIS programme, what the reasons are for the delay in the Morpheus communications project.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The MORPHEUS project is delayed following contract delays in 2021.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the status is of the Morpheus communications programme; and whether there are delays.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

MORPHEUS is a project within the Land Environment Tactical Communication and Information Systems (LETacCIS) Programme and is currently delayed. Work to reset the project remains ongoing, and an Independent Project Review, led by the Cabinet Office’s Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA), will take place in early 2025 and inform next steps.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress has been made on the Land Environment Tactical Communication and Information Systems programme.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence

Information on performance of defence programmes in the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) is published each year alongside the Infrastructure and Projects Authority annual report. Programme performance information as at 31 March 2024 is expected to be released in July 2024.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on legal fees relating to the Morpheus programme as of 8 February 2024.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence

It is taking time to collate the required information to answer the right hon. Member's Question. I will write to him when the information is available, and a copy of this letter will be placed in the Library of The House.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on external consultants for the Morpheus programme.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence

It is taking time to collate the required information to answer the right hon. Member's Question. I will write to him when the information is available, and a copy of this letter will be placed in the Library of The House.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to re-compete the Morpheus contract.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence

As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement dated 14 December 2023, the MORPHEUS Evolve to Open Transition Partner (EvO TP) contract with General Dynamics Missions Systems (UK) (GDMS(UK)), which was focused on evolving the proprietary Bowman system, was concluded in December 2023. The MOD has reached a position where the deliverables are sufficient to enable the future of the MORPHEUS project and the next generation of tactical communications. As Bowman is a proprietary system owned by GDMS(UK), the EvO TP contract cannot be recompeted.

Defence will engage with industry on a renewed basis, incorporating the lessons learned from this procurement and move towards delivering the next generation of tactical communications systems, for the benefit of the whole of Defence.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what capability benefits his Department has received from the end of the Morpheus programme.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has concluded the Evolve to Open Transition Partner contract, with General Dynamics Mission Systems (UK) (GDMS(UK)), which was due to deliver a lab tested design for Project MORPHEUS.

Overall, the MOD has reached a position where the deliverables are sufficient to enable the future of the MORPHEUS project and the next generation of tactical communications, a position reinforced by strong market engagement with suppliers. Due to the confidentiality provisions in the contract protecting commercial interests we are unable to provide further detail.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the costs are of cancellation of the Morpheus contract with General Dynamics.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has concluded the Evolve to Open Transition Partner contract, with General Dynamics Mission Systems (UK) (GDMS(UK)), which was due to deliver a lab tested design for Project MORPHEUS.

Overall, the MOD has reached a position where the deliverables are sufficient to enable the future of the MORPHEUS project and the next generation of tactical communications, a position reinforced by strong market engagement with suppliers. Due to the confidentiality provisions in the contract protecting commercial interests we are unable to provide further detail.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on the Morpheus programme.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 5 December 2023 to Question 3715.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many senior responsible owners have worked on the LETacCIS programme since its inception.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence

Since the LETacCIS programmes' inception in 2011, there have been six Senior Responsible Owners, five Programme Directors, and five Programme Managers.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many programme managers have worked on the LETacCIS programme since its inception.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence

Since the LETacCIS programmes' inception in 2011, there have been six Senior Responsible Owners, five Programme Directors, and five Programme Managers.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the projected in-service date for Morpheus is as of 27 November 2023.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence

The original Initial Operating Capability (IOC) date was 2025; a revised IOC is yet to be defined pending ongoing discussions with the supplier which remain commercially sensitive.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it remains his Department's policy to pursue the Morpheus programme.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence

The Department continues to require the outputs of the MORPHEUS project as part of the next generation of tactical communications.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many programme directors from his Department have worked on Morpheus since that programme began.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence

The LETacCIS programme has a full-time Senior Civil Servant (2*) Senior Responsible Owner, who has responsibility for the MORPHEUS project as part of the wider LETacCIS programme. Since the LETacCIS programme began, four Programme Directors have overseen the MORPHEUS project.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Morpheus programme has a full time senior responsible officer.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence

The LETacCIS programme has a full-time Senior Civil Servant (2*) Senior Responsible Owner, who has responsibility for the MORPHEUS project as part of the wider LETacCIS programme. Since the LETacCIS programme began, four Programme Directors have overseen the MORPHEUS project.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on (a) Morpheus and (b) the wider LEtacCIS programme as of 27 November 2023.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence

As of 27 November 2023, the total expenditure for the LETacCIS programme is c£1.8 billion, of which Project MORPHEUS represents c£766 million.