Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

With reference to the press release entitled King Charles III marks historic milestone for nuclear submarine programme, published on 22 September 2025, what the completion timeline is of the fourth boat in the Dreadnought Class.

The Dreadnought Class submarines will begin to enter service from the early 2030s. The planned in-service dates for Royal Navy submarines are withheld as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness, or security of the Armed Forces.

With reference to page 46 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, in what locations he plans to launch regional STEM initiatives.

The locations have not been determined, and we will work in partnership with industry, including through the Defence Industrial Joint Council, to launch regional STEM initiatives where there is a large defence presence.

With reference to page 21 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, what criteria would need to be met to define a UK-based company as part of the defence industrial base.

To define a UK-based company as part of the defence industrial base, it must contribute to national security and align with the aim of increasing the competitiveness of the UK defence market. This includes being a UK supplier or part of priority defence sub-sectors, supporting capability collaboration, and contributing to exports. The company should also help grow and sustain the UK industrial base in line with increased defence spending.

With reference to page 42 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, what elements will be covered in the (a) Defence Finance and Investment Strategy and (b) Defence Investment Plan.

The forthcoming Defence Investment Plan will, for the very first time, outline our investment priorities, taking into account our priority national security sub-sectors and the associated UK industrial capability. It will cover the full scope of the defence programme, from people and operations to equipment and infrastructure, to ensure we can deliver the vision set out in the Strategic Defence Review.The Defence Finance and Investment Strategy will look at the entire spectrum of defence companies, from start-ups through to primes, and provide recommendations to the Defence Secretary on how barriers to investment in defence can be removed while making the sector more attractive for private investment, including venture capital, private equity and pension funds. We have stood up a Defence Investors Advisory Group to help develop the Defence Finance and Investment Strategy, bringing together some of the best minds from banking, pension funds, venture capital and Strategic Finance. The Advisory Group held their first meeting on 27 October.

With reference to page 65 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, what his planned timetable is for aligning the UK Defence Innovation Rapid Innovation Unit with the US Defence Innovation Unit.

UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) launched in July 2025. Focus has now shifted to implementing, transitioning, and operationalising UKDI to ensure it is fully operational by July 2026. This work will include building on UKDI’s strong existing relationship with the US DIU and ensuring a partnership between the two organisations to share lessons and deliver capabilities that are of mutual defence benefit.

With reference to page 41 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, how much funding his Department plans to provide for the mission to becoming a defence industrial leader by 2035 in (a) British Pound Sterling and (b) as a proportion of the annual defence budget.

The Government has boosted defence spending by £5 billion this year alone, as part of the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War. This will see defence spending increase to 2.6% of GDP from 2027 with an ambition of hitting 3% by the end of next Parliament The Defence Investment Plan, which will be published later this year, will set out how we will align our funding to deliver the vision set out in the Strategic Defence Review, including a new partnership with industry. Future funding beyond the current Spending Review period will be subject to further Spending Reviews.

What the scope is of the UK's commitment to the NATO Eastern Sentry programme.

The UK committed early to Eastern Sentry, deploying RAF Typhoon fighter jets and Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft to conduct air defence missions over Poland. This deployment involves hundreds of UK personnel. In a demonstration of the UK’s ongoing and steadfast support for NATO’s collective defence, the Defence Secretary has confirmed that the UK’s contribution to Eastern Sentry will continue until at least the end of 2025, ensuring the security of NATO territory and deterring further aggression.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 September 2025 to Question 76411 on Ajax Vehicles, by when armoured infantry doctrine will be rewritten to reflect the change in capability from Warrior to ARES.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mr Francois) to Question 77473, which remains extant and explains there is no direct replacement for Warrior. The British Army continually review all doctrine and make amendments as required. As the ARES platform is delivered into service, tactical doctrines will be reviewed accordingly.

Which vehicle platforms receive (a) spares and (b) support through the UK’s membership of the NATO Support and Procurement Agency.

The Boxer vehicle and Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) land platforms are supported by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA). The NSPA manages support solutions for partner nations operating similar equipment, enabling increased economies of scale when purchasing spare parts to support fleets.In addition, NSPA provides vehicle cleaning services through the Tactical Land System project.

With reference to page 64 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, whether the proposed defence technology cluster at RAF Wyton will be included within the defence innovation portfolio.

Collaboration will be at the heart of UK Defence Innovation (UKDI). UKDI will work closely with partners across the existing defence innovation landscape, including the proposed Defence Tech Cluster at RAF Wyton, establishing the right infrastructure for testing new ideas, driving innovation, and solving challenges at pace.

With reference to page 135 of his Department's document entitled Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 2 June 2025, what progress he has made in increasing renewable energy production on overseas bases.

The priority for Defence is to maintain resilience to enable our warfighting capability both in the UK and Overseas. Assessments into energy resilience of our overseas bases have been undertaken and where it has been identified that renewables, fuel diversification or energy storage will enhance our operational resilience, then these projects have been raised onto the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) for consideration of funding. That plan is still under consideration.

With reference to recommendation 32 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, which Departments are involved in the implementation of the nuclear deterrent.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 7 September 2025 to Question 70755 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge).

With reference to page 108 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what multiple increase in lethality he has achieved; and by when he plans to achieve a ten-fold increase.

The Army ​will deliver a tenfold increase in lethality over the next ten years by harnessing firepower, surveillance technology, autonomy, digital connectivity, and data - leading the way in NATO in its use of technology to change how it fights, improving speed and accuracy. However, a tenfold increase in lethality is not a single moment in time-it is a trajectory. By 2027 the British Army aim to have doubled fighting power through better training, smarter use of existing capabilities, and rapid adaptation. Tripling by 2030 is within reach as we field new systems and integrate them into a digitally connected force.

With reference to page 22 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, what recent steps the Royal Navy has taken to (a) lead and (b) coordinate work to help protect undersea infrastructure.

The Royal Navy is acting under the direction provided in the Strategic Defence Review 2025 to lead and co-ordinate work to protect critical undersea infrastructure. This includes new investment capability options for platforms and sensor suites to counter threats. Options for new investment to support critical undersea infrastructure protection are in the Royal Navy’s submission into the Defence Investment Plan, which will report in due course.

With reference to the data tables accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, what the ongoing challenges are in meeting the delivery date for the first Dreadnought submarine nuclear core.

The red delivery confidence rating for the Core Production Capability programme in the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) report reflects the complexity of simultaneously completing the Astute Class cores while transitioning to a new core type for the Dreadnought Class. The Ministry of Defence is working closely with Rolls-Royce Submarines to improve delivery confidence by increasing production rates and improving manufacturing resilience. NISTA has confirmed these actions are appropriate. The first of Class, HMS Dreadnought, remains on track to enter service in the early 2030s.

With reference to page 11 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, what recent steps he has taken to prioritise NATO in defence planning.

In line with the Strategic Defence Review, the UK has put NATO at the heart of our force development. This is evidenced by UK operational and force design for our Euro-Atlantic security being driven by NATO's plans and capability targets, as set through NATO's Defence Planning Process.

With reference to page 106 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, when the multi-role ocean survey ship will be deployed to counter threats to critical undersea infrastructure.

The Royal Navy is acting under the direction provided in the Strategic Defence Review 2025 to lead and co-ordinate work to protect critical undersea infrastructure. This includes new investment capability options for platforms and sensor suites to counter threats. Options for new investment to support critical undersea infrastructure protection are in the Royal Navy’s submission into the Defence Investment Plan, which will report in due course.

With reference to page 34 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, what recent progress he has made on strengthening the interoperability of carrier strike groups with Italy.

Italy is an important partner of the United Kingdom, demonstrated in the context of Carrier Strike, through our memberships of NATO, the F-35 Lightning II programme, and the European Carrier Group Interoperability Initiative (ECGII). Interoperability has been strengthened during the ongoing deployment of the UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG) on Operation HIGHMAST, during which HMS PRINCE OF WALES worked alongside the Italian Navy’s ITS CAVOUR CSG in the Mediterranean Sea in May 2025. Combined training activity emphasised UK-Italian CSG interoperability and integration across all domains, including UK and Italian F-35B jets flying sorties by day and night, and the opportunity for Italian Navy F-35Bs to land on, and launch from, HMS PRINCE OF WALES. Further combined training opportunities to strengthen UK-Italian CSG interoperability are planned during the UK CSG’s return passage later this year.

With reference to page 89 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what additional resource the Royal Navy will be granted to take a new (a) leading and (b) coordinating role in securing undersea infrastructure.

The Royal Navy is acting under the direction provided in the Strategic Defence Review 2025 to lead and co-ordinate work to protect critical undersea infrastructure. This includes new investment capability options for platforms and sensor suites to counter threats. Options for new investment to support critical undersea infrastructure protection are in the Royal Navy’s submission into the Defence Investment Plan, which will report in due course.

With reference to page 78 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on developing a single Integrated Global Defence Network.

The Integrated Global Defence Network (IGDN) has completed the first phase of its development by merging the Directorate of Overseas Bases and the Global Defence Network of Defence Attachés and Advisors into the IGDN HQ, dually lead by a 2 star military director and an SCS2 civilian director, with 3 star military oversight. The network will now continue through to the second phase of its development through a series of projects, including the SDR-directed Network Review of Defence’s global footprint, which will include engagement with the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.