Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

When is HMS Richmond due to be decommissioned.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question 108883 tabled on 4 February 2026.

What steps he has taken with the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency to procure a Joint Commando Craft for the Royal Navy.

The UK is considering a bilateral programme with Norway to procure a Joint Commando Craft (JCC) and, working in conjunction with the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency, has released a Request for Information. The programme is intended to deliver vessels capable of transporting specialist personnel and equipment, including uncrewed and autonomous systems, for insertion and extraction in demanding littoral environments.

What the scheduled handover date to the Royal Navy is of the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 flagship commitment.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 6 March 2026 to Question 119559.

Pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2026, to question 119557 on RAF Wyton: NATO, what assessment he has been made of the current ability to conduct NATO-specific intelligence-gathering at RAF Wyton.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question 119557 on 16 March 2026.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of procuring BAE Maritime’s Littoral Strike Craft for the Royal Navy.

The Strategic Defence Review considered all aspects of Defence, including the capabilities required by UK Defence to meet the challenges, threats, and opportunities of the twenty-first century. The plan for implementing the Review’s recommendations for the Integrated Force will be set out in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan.

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of domestic weapons integration advantages of the F-35I over the British F-35B.

Israel procures F-35 directly from the US. This is a matter between the Israeli and US Governments.

What is the Royal Navy’s contribution to the Aspides naval mission.

The Royal Navy does not make a direct contribution to Operation ASPIDES.

Pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2026, to question 118321 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, by what date does he expect all current ongoing investigations into Ajax to have concluded.

As I confirmed to the House during Defence Oral Questions on 16 March 2026, we have received the final Army safety investigation report, and work is ongoing to agree next steps. The department continues to engage with General Dynamics on the report and next steps, as we have since Exercise TITAN STORM. I will update the House after Easter recess to outline next steps.

Pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2026, to question 118321 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, what investigations into Ajax are still ongoing.

As I confirmed to the House during Defence Oral Questions on 16 March 2026, we have received the final Army safety investigation report, and work is ongoing to agree next steps. The department continues to engage with General Dynamics on the report and next steps, as we have since Exercise TITAN STORM. I will update the House after Easter recess to outline next steps.

Pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2026, to question 119557 on RAF Wyton: NATO, whether the infrastructure at RAF Wyton is in scope for the Defence Investment Plan.

The Defence Investment Plan will cover investment in infrastructure. It will be published as soon as possible.

Pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2025 to question 73557 on Navy: Dockyards, what progress he has made in delivering the NSIGN Projects to enable the Ministry of Defence to contract for Submarine and enabling Naval Base services delivered through Clyde and Devonport in March 2026.

Good progress has been made on both programmes. Contract placement is on track to extend the Future Maritime Support Programme (FMSP) to cover the period from April 2026 up to October 2028. The extension will ensure a smooth transition to the Naval Support Integrated Global Network (NSIGN) Programme, which will continue the maritime support transformation started by the FMSP. Supplier negotiations for the NSIGN programme continue.

Pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2025 to question 73557 on Navy: Dockyards, what progress he has made in delivering the extension of the Future Maritime Support Programme (FMSP) where required, for the period March 2026 to October 2028.

Good progress has been made on both programmes. Contract placement is on track to extend the Future Maritime Support Programme (FMSP) to cover the period from April 2026 up to October 2028. The extension will ensure a smooth transition to the Naval Support Integrated Global Network (NSIGN) Programme, which will continue the maritime support transformation started by the FMSP. Supplier negotiations for the NSIGN programme continue.

By when will his department answer question 113295, published on 12 February 2026.

The total value of the air defence package announced by the Defence Secretary at the most recent Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting, is £540 million. This is funded through the UK’s annual commitment of military aid to Ukraine and Ukrainian funding underwritten by UK Export Finance.

What assessment has he made of the requirement to replace the minehunting capability of HMS Middleton in the Arabian Gulf.

We inherited a plan from the previous government for a drawdown of crewed minehunting capabilities. The Royal Navy remains committed to sustaining mine countermeasures capability in the Arabian Gulf. The UK is transitioning to modern autonomous minehunting systems under the Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) programme, and operational requirements in the region are kept under constant review.

What assessment he has made of the level of deployability of HMS Duncan prior to completion of its Power Improvement Project upgrade.

The Royal Navy manages the availability and readiness of its ships on a rolling basis, ensuring that vessels are deployed only when they are safe, capable, and endorsed for tasking.

If he will make an assessment of the potential vulnerability of (a) Taiwan and (b) the first and second island chain following the deployment of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit from Okinawa to the Arabian Gulf.

The MOD does not comment on assessments conducted on the military capabilities of other states for reasons of operational security.

Pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2925 to question 89770 on Unmanned Marine Systems: Procurement, what a) roles and b) capabilities are covered by the Royal Navy’s Coastal Forces.

The Coastal Forces Squadron along with 47 Commando Royal Marines will be the first operators of the Project BEEHIVE Uncrewed Surface Vessels to be delivered by Kraken Technology Group. Primarily designed to operate in littoral waters these craft will have a modular payload system with an open architecture which will allow the very rapid integration of a wide variety of sensors and effectors to support Coastal Forces and Commando Force activity.

What assessment has he made of the capabilities of DARPA’s SPeed and Runway INdependent Technologies (SPRINT) program X-76 aircraft for the Royal Air Force.

The UK Ministry of Defence has an ongoing relationship with DARPA, which ranges from information sharing to active collaboration on specific projects. No specific engagement has been undertaken on the SPRINT Programme, nor assessment of the X-76 demonstrator aircraft for RAF roles.

For what reason was 12 Squadron deployed to Qatar in February 2026.

12 Squadron was deployed to Qatar in February 2026 following a formal request from the Qatari Government.

What Royal Navy capabilities are planned to be supported by Maritime Remote and Autonomous Systems (MRAAS).

The Royal Navy is in a significant transition to a hybrid force with a mix of crewed and uncrewed systems operating in the air, surface and sub-surface environments.