Every parliamentary written question tabled by Ben Obese-Jecty this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 681–700 of 2,264 · Ministry of Defence
What is the scope of the Royal Navy’s Develop Directorate.
The Royal Navy’s Develop Directorate leads the development of future warfighting capability and acts as the Design Authority for naval capabilities of the future. It seeks to achieve the optimum mix of present and future warfighting technologies required for a modern, global and ready Royal Navy.
What assessment he has made of the potential merits of integration between Project Asgard and Project Boyd.
The Strategic Defence Review outlined how the Armed Forces must complete the journey from a joint force to an Integrated Force underpinned by a common digital foundation and shared data. Project BOYD and Project ASGARD represent the Royal Air Force (RAF) and British Army’s respective contributions to this endeavour. While Project BOYD is led by the RAF’s Rapid Capabilities Office and Project ASGARD from the Army’s Information Directorate, both fall under the effort to establish the digital targeting web to connect ‘sensors’, ‘deciders’ and ‘effectors’ which will be implemented across all domains by the Integrated Force model. Learning captured by Project ASGARD and Project BOYD will be shared by both teams to inform future acquisition decisions.
Pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2026 to Question 107813 on Army, what new capabilities )a) have and (b) are in the process of being fielded to the Army via Task Force Rapstone.
RAPSTONE is an Army initiative to accelerate the fielding of new capabilities into the British Army. These include: - Tactical uncrewed airborne systems (UAS) – short and medium range tactical drones.- Systems to detect, track and counter UAS at the tactical level.- Medium range loitering munitions.- Uncrewed ground vehicles for last-mile resupply of tactical units.- Electronic warfare (EW) systems for specialist and generalist users.- Dispersed digital sensor systems to enhance the intelligence capability of tactical units.- Enhanced counter UAS protection for vehicles.- Utility vehicles for tactical units (4x4 pick-ups and vans).- Hybrid power supplies for tactical headquarters and deployed teams.- Personal individual power packs.- Digital tools for tactical logistic planning and enhanced deployed maintenance.- Enhanced digital tools for fire control.- Increased satellite communications capabilities for mobile tactical units.- Develop dried blood plasma technology into a deployable medical capability. I am unable to provide greater detail on the individual capabilities listed due to Operational sensitivities.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Atlantic series deployments on deterring Russia’s Northern Fleet from deploying.
Through the First Sea Lords’ Warfighting Ready Plan, the Royal Navy is transforming to a Hybrid Navy, where crewed, uncrewed and autonomous capabilities are operating together to enhance our warfighting readiness. The Hybrid Navy is our response to maintaining comparative operational advantage over our adversaries. Atlantic Bastion is our concept for assuring our nuclear deterrent, protecting our critical underwater infrastructure and denying sea control to our adversaries. Atlantic Shield will deal with adversarial threats, followed by Atlantic Strike, which will take the fight to the enemy by sea, air or land.
What requirements changes have the Army made to the Early Capability Demonstrator platform as part of the Mobile Fires Platform programme.
The Early Capability Demonstrator platform provides the common design baseline and technical specification for both the UK and Germany. The UK has not added any additional requirements changes.
What assessment his Department's Defence AI and Autonomy Unit has made of the potential role of AI within the targeting decision cycle.
The Ministry of Defence recognises that AI has the potential to enhance multiple stages of the targeting decision cycle by improving the speed, accuracy and consistency with which information can be processed. AI, as a general‑purpose enabling technology, can support better‑informed and faster decision‑making while maintaining full compliance with the UK’s legal and ethical obligations. The Department is clear that the incorporation of AI into the targeting process does not diminish the requirement for robust human judgement. Any system used in support of targeting requires context‑appropriate human involvement, and human responsibility and accountability for decisions on the use of force cannot be delegated to machines.
What assessment he has made of the potential merits of adopting the US military’s business operators for national defence scheme.
The Ministry of Defence has no plans to recruit a dedicated cadre of former defence industry executives. Nevertheless, the Department is conscious of the value that those with private sector experience can bring. This can be seen in the appointment in October last year of Rupert Pearce as the UK National Armaments Director (NAD), bringing over 40 years of experience across law, technology, telecommunications, energy, and venture capital. His track record of managing large-scale organisations, driving innovation and building international partnerships make him ideally suited to lead the transformation of how defence works with industry to deliver for the UK Armed Forces. The commitment to recruiting individuals with a breadth of experience can also be seen in the current competition for a new Director General UK Defence Innovation, in which the Department is accepting applications from both within and outside the Civil Service.
Pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2026, to question 107516 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, how much remains to be paid to General Dynamics under contractual obligations for the Ajax programme; and in how many instalments.
I am unable to publish the details of the General Dynamics Land Systems UK milestone payment plan as this may prejudice my Department's commercial interests.
Pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2026, to question 107516 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, what the next milestone is in the Ajax programme that will trigger a payment as part of contractual obligations.
There is £1.1bn remaining to be paid to General Dynamics Land Systems UK in line with contractual obligations. I am unable to publish the details of the milestone payment plan as this may prejudice my Department's commercial interests.
Pursuant to the answer of 26 January 2026, to question 107234 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, by when will he have upgraded all Ajax-family vehicles at a) CD1 and b) CD2 to CD3 or above.
A. The final planned Capability Drop 1 to Capability Drop 3 upgrades are expected to be complete in October 2028B. The final planned Capability Drop 2 to Capability Drop 3 upgrades are expected to be complete in July 2028 As the Hon Gentleman will know there are a series of reviews in place in connection with Ajax that will inform decisions on Ajax that will be included in the DIP. I will notify the House when I have an update.
Pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2026 to question 106285 on Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Decommissioning, what progress he has made on procuring a CBRN capable replacement for the Fuchs CBRN platform.
Options to replace the Fuchs vehicle are being explored as part of the Land Mobility Programme, within the Heavy Protected Mobility sub-programme.The Heavy Protected Mobility sub-programme is in its Concept Phase and is currently evaluating the Finnish led Common Armoured Vehicles System (CAVS) Programme's suitability in meeting UK's Heavy Protected Mobility requirements. All decisions are subject to the outcome of the Defence Investment Plan.
What his Department's timetable is for delivering a minimum viable product for the Digital Targeting Web.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge) to Question 96241 on 10 December 2025. The Department aims to deliver the first elements of the Digital Targeting Web, or a 'Minimum Viable Product', in 2026. Plans will be continually reviewed to respond to emerging threats and adjusted as necessary. The Digital Targeting Web is not a single, discrete system or platform but rather an interconnected ecosystem of systems, processes, and capabilities designed to enhance the UK’s targeting effectiveness. As such, it does not conform to traditional definitions and milestones that would be expected of a platform-centric project or capability. Its development will be an ongoing, iterative process to ensure the UK remains competitive in a rapidly evolving operational environment.
Pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2026 to question 107527 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, what the status is of the first 100 Ajax-vehicles.
The majority of the first 100 Ajax vehicles were withdrawn from units in 2024, with the final vehicle withdrawn from 6 Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) in October 2025. These vehicles are currently located in Merthyr Tydfil, Llanelli, and the Bicester Holding Area, where they are awaiting planned upgrades to meet the requirements for the current Capability Drop level before being delivered into service.
Pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2026 to question 107527 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, for what reason the first 100 Ajax-vehicles are not in service with any unit.
The majority of the first 100 Ajax vehicles were withdrawn from units in 2024, with the final vehicle withdrawn from 6 Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) in October 2025. These vehicles are currently located in Merthyr Tydfil, Llanelli, and the Bicester Holding Area, where they are awaiting planned upgrades to meet the requirements for the current Capability Drop level before being delivered into service.
Whether the Advanced Reasoning for Decision Advantage (ARDA) is within the projects shortlisted from the Defence AI Sprint.
Yes.
What the five shortlisted projects are from the Defence AI sprint.
The five shortlisted projects are: Advanced Reasoning for Decision Advantage (ARDA)AI Exploitation for the Digital Targeting WebAutonomous Mission ExecutionUnderwater Acoustic Foundation ModelAI Enabled Cyber Defence
With reference to the Written Ministerial Statement on Ajax, published on 22 January 2026, what recent assessment he has made of the accuracy of declaring Ajax as safe to operate ahead of Exercise Titan Storm.
I refer hon. Member to Question 107817, answered on 28 January 2026, which remains extant.
Pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2026 to Question 106072 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the issue raised in the post-exercise report for Exercise Scorpion Cyclone on the inability of the vehicle CES to be carried by the vehicle whilst up-armoured.
Feedback from user experience in trials and during exercises will continue to inform updates to Ajax including Capability Drop 4. It would not be appropriate to comment on the specifics around the capability and its armoured configurations due to operationally sensitivities.
When HMS Richmond is due to be decommissioned.
The Royal Navy continues to modernise its Fleet through careful management of a surface fleet transition plan to ensure the highest priority outputs are maintained through this decade and the next. We are replacing our Type 23 Frigates with eight of the world’s most advanced anti-submarine warfare ships, the Type 26 Frigates. They will be bolstered by five general purpose Type 31 Frigates, providing opportunity to project power, support NATO operations and influence on the global stage. The Royal Navy keeps the planned out-of-service dates for its vessels under continual review as part of routine force planning, in light of operational requirements and affordability. Any decisions on the decommissioning of individual ships will be announced in the usual way.
What arrangement governs the use of UK-based US fighter jets for interception taskings.
Permissions to utilise UK military bases by foreign partners are considered on a case-by-case basis, dependent on the nature and purpose of their activity. For operational security reasons, we do not offer comment or information relating to foreign nations' military operations.