Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

What is the decision point for the deployment of RFA Lyme Bay to the Eastern Mediterranean.

RFA Lyme Bay has sailed from Gibraltar, available for maritime tasks in the region should they be required.

How HMS Dragon will be deconflicted with NATO naval assets from a) the United States, b) France, c) Greece, d) Spain, e) Italy, f) the Netherlands and g) other allies once it arrives in the Eastern Mediterranean.

HMS Dragon is a sovereign UK deployment to protect the interests of the UK, and the interests of our allies in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Royal Navy routinely operates alongside partners and allies, enabling the deconfliction of maritime and aviation assets to be embedded within routine operating procedures. Full details remain classified to ensure UK operational advantage.

Under what command structure will HMS Dragon be under upon arrival in the Eastern Mediterranean in order to ensure protection of Cyprus is coordinated with the naval presence of NATO allies in the region.

HMS Dragon is a sovereign UK deployment to protect the interests of the UK, and the interests of our allies in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Royal Navy routinely operates alongside partners and allies, enabling the deconfliction of maritime and aviation assets to be embedded within routine operating procedures. Full details remain classified to ensure UK operational advantage.

How many Royal Navy frigates were ordered between a) 1980 -1997, b) 1997-2010 ) 2010-2024 and d) since 5th July 2024.

Royal Navy force structure and procurement plans are kept under continuous review.The number of Royal Navy frigates ordered in each period is as follows:(a) 1980–1997: 24(b) 1997–2010: None(c) 2010–2024: 13 (A number of these slots have been ceded as part of the Norwegian deal. The delta is yet to be made up through additional orders, and this will be a consideration of the Defence Investment Plan).(d) Since 5 July 2024: None.Seventeen other major warships were ordered in the period since 1980, including three assault ships, six Type 45 Destroyers; six River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels; and two Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers. This number does not include ships converted from commercial service, coastal patrol and training vessels, survey vessels, mine countermeasures vessels, submarines or Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels.

From what date is the Royal Navy due to commence its commitment to NATO Standing Naval Maritime Group 1.

The Royal Navy routinely contributes to NATO's Standing Naval Forces, including Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), as part of the UK's ongoing commitment to Alliance deterrence and defence. The specific dates of UK deployments are subject to operational planning and security considerations, but the UK continues to meet all NATO readiness and force generation requirements.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2026 to Question 111272 on RAF Wyton: NATO, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of constructing a new NATO-specific building to facilitate a NATO intelligence gathering function at RAF Wyton.

The UK remains fully committed to NATO and continues to meet its longstanding obligations through close cooperation and collaboration with Allies across the Alliance. This work strengthens collective security and enhances shared situational awareness, from which the UK also benefits.

What is the complete list of current project names being undertaken by the Ministry of Defence.

The Ministry of Defence undertakes many hundreds of projects and programmes across the organisation. Information about the most strategically important and complex of these is published each year in the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) annual report.

What assessment has he made of the risk the DF-21D missile poses to Royal Navy aircraft carriers.

As part of its routine responsibilities, the Ministry of Defence conducts assessments of the military capabilities of other states. To protect operational security and safeguard national defence interests, the results of these assessments are not made public.

Which T45 Daring-class ship is scheduled to deploy on Operation Firecrest as part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group.

Detail on Operation Firecrest can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-carrier-strike-group-to-deploy-to-north-atlantic-to-keep-uk-safe I am unable to comment further at this time to do so would compromise the security of our forces and effectiveness of operations. Further detail about Operation Firecrest will be provided in due course.

When HMS Prince of Wales is scheduled to deploy on Operation Firecrest.

Detail on Operation Firecrest can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-carrier-strike-group-to-deploy-to-north-atlantic-to-keep-uk-safe I am unable to comment further at this time to do so would compromise the security of our forces and effectiveness of operations. Further detail about Operation Firecrest will be provided in due course.

What are the disposal plans for a) HMS Chiddingford and b) HMS Middleton.

There are currently no disposal plans for the Hunt Class Mine Countermeasures Vessels, HMS Chiddingfold and HMS Middleton. The last Hunt Class ship is due to leave service in 2031.

When is HMS Bangor due to complete its refit.

HMS BANGOR is not in refit; the ship is undergoing structural repairs following the ship's recovery from deployed operations. These are currently scheduled to have been completed by the end of April 2026.

What assessment has he made of the potential merits of a) deconflicting and b) combining Project Shrinker with Project Cairns.

Project CAIRNS is currently a pre-concept project and as such formal consideration of systems and specifications has not yet taken place. Project SHRINKER is a Defence procurement project. For reasons of operational security, I cannot provide any further details.

Whether the Royal Navy will contribute an Astute-class attack submarine on Operation Firecrest.

Detail on Operation Firecrest can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-carrier-strike-group-to-deploy-to-north-atlantic-to-keep-uk-safe I am unable to comment further at this time to do so would compromise the security of our forces and effectiveness of operations. Further detail about Operation Firecrest will be provided in due course.

What assessment has he made of the potential threat posed by the Chinese Ocean Star Cluster and its layered defences, to future Royal Navy operations in the northern South China Sea.

As part of its routine responsibilities, the Ministry of Defence conducts assessments of the military capabilities of other states. To protect operational security and safeguard national defence interests, the results of these assessments are not made public.

What is the full scope of Project Talon.

Project Talon seeks a maritime Counter-UAS capability able to detect, track, identify and defeat airborne threats. Further information can be found at this link - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/notice/716f2056-c004-45bd-83f0-503ea349b8aa?origin=SearchResults&p=1

What steps he has taken to procure a Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System to counter incoming a) rockets, b) artillery, c) mortars and d) drones.

Integrated Air and Missile Defence investments will be prioritised appropriately against the threat as part of the future Integrated Force. Work to deliver the Strategic Defence Review recommendations, including on Integrated Air and Missile Defence, will be prioritised appropriately against the assessed threat picture as part of the future Integrated Force and will be set out in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan.

What assessment he has made of the reasons UK military assets failed to intercept the attack drone that struck RAF Akrotiri on 2 March 2026.

We have deployed significant air defence assets to the region since January. This includes extra jets, radars, HMS Dragon, counter drones systems and over 500 additional British personnel as part of our significant air defence team. This is a comprehensive layered air defence capability. It would not be appropriate to comment on any assessment which may be utilised by our adversaries.

What protection RAF Akrotiri has against Iranian Medium Range Ballistic Missiles, in the context of the move of the US Navy USS Gerald R Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Red Sea on 5 March.

In addition to the equipment and capabilities stationed at RAF Akrotiri, the Ministry of Defence have added 400 additional personnel, increased air defence radar and missiles since January. We have deployed F-35 and Typhoon aircraft, three Wildcat helicopters and a Merlin helicopter. HMS Dragon has now departed from the UK, where, as the Secretary of State informed the House on 9 March 2026, it will join US air defence destroyers in the Eastern Mediterranean.

What warning RAF Akrotiri was given by (a) the United States, (b) Israel or (c) other allies of the approach of the four attack drones on Sunday 1 March.

It is a longstanding position that the Ministry of Defence does not comment on specific intelligence, or information from third party nations, for security reasons.