Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

What recent progress he has made on implementing the next generation fixed communication network.

The next generation fixed communication network programme has made good progress towards delivering its outcomes. Acceleration of programme benefits is now underway with opportunities being taken to expedite the closure of the legacy BT Network, and associated DFTS Contract. This will incrementally deliver financial savings to the department, culminating in a significant cost reduction for Defence. Concurrently the delivery of new support contracts that will enable transition to the future state are in development. This will enable detailed planning to commence with Fujitsu for the transition to modern network support arrangements. Demonstratable progress has also been made through the development and implementation of a modern technical architecture solution and supporting operational model design that will transform how network services are procured and managed into the future.

With reference to recommendation 33 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of amending the Single Source Contract Regulations.

In accordance with recommendation 33 of the Strategic Defence Review a comprehensive review of the Single Source Contract Regulations has been commissioned. The initial consultation will run from October 2025 through to January 2026 with recommendations drafted and approved by 31 March 2026.

With reference to page 109 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what level of readiness the UK contribution to the Strategic Reserve Corps is held at.

NATO requires the Strategic Reserve Corps (SRC) to be held at graduated levels of readiness to meet the requirements of the Defence and Deterrence of the Euro Atlantic family of plans. The UK holds the SRC at readiness in line with this and communicates its specific readiness levels with NATO.

With reference to page 105 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, updated on 8 July 2025, what his planned timeframe is for changing the Royal Navy’s personnel balance between (a) regulars and (b) reservists.

The outputs of the Strategic Defence Review including the recommendation to increase the size of the Active Reserve by 20% are being reviewed through the Defence Investment Plan, with future strategic workforce planning to be modelled into the Royal Navy's structures through next year's strategic planning cycle.

What the role of the jHub is within Strategic Command.

JHub delivers numerous innovation workstreams in support of operations to users across Cyber and Specialist Operations Command (formerly UK Strategic Command) and works closely with the new UK Defence Innovation organisation. These innovation projects spearhead the rapid adoption of new technologies, processes, and ideas which accelerate and reduce risk within the force development cycle and deliver valuable capabilities directly into the hands of the Warfighter.

With reference to recommendation 29 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, by when he plans to create an always on munitions production capacity.

The SDR committed to invest £1.5bn in an 'always on' pipeline for munitions and to build at least 6 new energetics and munitions factories in the UK this parliament. The Ministry of Defence is currently developing a plan to deliver this commitment alongside our wider Defence Industrial Strategy, delivering long-term investment to boost UK growth and generating skilled UK jobs and export opportunities. The MOD is carefully considering arrangements for 'always on' and we have announced that at least 13 sites across the UK have been identified as potential energetics and munitions factories. We are inviting industry to submit proposals to meet the government’s requirements for energetics production.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2025 to Question 74146 on Defence: Huntingdon, (a) what and (b) where those two projects are.

I hope the hon. Member will understand that I cannot place all the details in the public domain at this time, but the two projects potentially eligible for fast-track planning in Huntingdon are still under consideration. No final decision has been made with respect to the location of the projects, their design or timescales for operational readiness.

What grain is the standard 5.56 x 45mm ball round used by the Armed Forces.

The standard 5.56 x 45mm ball round used by the UK Armed Forces has a bullet weight of four grams, equivalent to 62 grains.

What the full scope is of Project Theia.

Project THEIA is the British Army’s flagship digital transformation programme. Project THEIA is structured around three core objectives; transforming digital culture and behaviours, integrating information across domains and enhancing decision-making. The project has delivered major initiatives to support the digitalisation and modernisation of the British Army.

What the full scope is of Project Cavendish.

Project CAVENDISH will commence in October 2025 and seeks to trial novel wastewater treatment technology on an Ministry of Defence (MOD) site. It will assess the feasibility and viability of net-positive energy sewage treatment on UK MOD sites in the United Kingdom and abroad. It will trial commercially available Microbial Electrolysis Cell (MEC) technology to treat sewage wastewater, produce energy-positive hydrogen and clean effluent.

What his Department's projected completion date is for Project Morpheus.

Following the closure of the Evolve to Open Transition Partner Contract in 2023, the Army has sought to achieve the objectives of MORPHEUS through iterative and incremental delivery. The Army has already demonstrated some of these capability goals through Project ASGARD. The Army continues to deliver tactical communications updates and upgrades across Defence and therefore the objectives of Project MORPHEUS remain ongoing under the revised Land Domain C4 sub-portfolio.

What the full scope is of Project Theia.

Project THEIA is the British Army’s flagship digital transformation programme. Project THEIA is structured around three core objectives; transforming digital culture and behaviours, integrating information across domains and enhancing decision-making. The project has delivered major initiatives to support the digitalisation and modernisation of the British Army.

What formal agreement between the UK and France stipulates the chain-of-command within the coalition of the willing.

The Multi-National Force-Ukraine is a combined UK-France lead, cohering UK-French co-leadership through the basis of the Combined Joint Force, formally the Combined Joint Expeditionary Force and renamed at the UK-France Summit in July 2025. The CJEF Concept of Operations provides a collaboratively shaped set of pre-agreed processes and procedures for planning and managing operations undertaken by the UK and French militaries. The structure offers balance between the two militaries for mutual decision-making within the policy/military space.

What the full scope is of Project Santa-ana.

Project SANTA ANA is a trial of two ‘off grid’ deployable, modular and mobile energy systems to compare market solutions to; - generate power at the point of use.- store the energy.- manage the energy.- distribute the energy to electric vehicles. The system includes micro wind turbines, battery, solar, energy management systems and Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure. The systems are being trialled at RAF Leeming, RNAS Yeovilton, Bovington and West Moors. The system sited at RAF Leeming is in direct line of sight of an airfield radar system as part of a test of the impact of micro wind turbines on radar. The trial will provide learning to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to the following areas: - To gain experience on reducing the reliance on the hydrocarbon logistics chain.- To produce reliable and dependable off grid energy for a deployable environment.- To exploit micro wind turbine technology.- To challenge policy with respect to micro wind turbine and radar.- To inform and influence MOD stakeholders on mobile renewable energy solutions.- To understand the challenges of managing mobile renewable power and demand.

What the full scope is of Project Effingo.

Project EFFINGO was a UK Defence innovation project, that started in September 2022 and concluded in July 2023. Its aim was to demonstrate that a replica adversarial Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) could be manufactured rapidly, and at relatively low cost, and be delivered to users within UK MOD for training purposes. Conclusion of the project allowed UK MOD to develop relevant Training, Tactics and Procedures (TTPs) for defensive (Counter-UAS) purposes for the protection personnel, assets and infrastructure.

Pursuant to the Question of 9 September 2025 to Question 74242 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, what the Army’s fielding plan is for Ares vehicles.

The Army’s fielding plan is reviewed and updated on a regular basis to meet the changing needs of the Army. Currently ARES will be fielded to Training Regiments, Armoured Cavalry units and Armoured Infantry units.

What is the out-of-service date of the Watchkeeper TUAS.

As announced by the Secretary of State in 2024, the Army’s Watchkeeper Mk 1 Uncrewed Aerial System is in the process of being retired from service with an Out of Service Date of March 2027.

What the total cost was of the Armoured Cavalry 2025 Programme.

The Approved Budget Level (ABL) for the Armoured Cavalry (Ajax) Programme is £6.3 billion. This has not changed since 2014. The estimated cost of the programme against this approval is £6.2 billion. The programme cost is estimated in real terms with inflation factored in.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the test flight of the General Atomics YFQ-42 drone.

This Government launched the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) which set out the pathway for the next decade and beyond to transform Defence. A key part of the SDR's vision for UK defence is innovation driven by lessons from Ukraine - harnessing drones, data, and digital warfare to make our Armed Forces stronger and safer. The SDR recommends that the Royal Air Force should shift towards the greater use of uncrewed systems as an immediate priority. As part of this transformation, uncrewed and autonomous systems will be incorporated into the Royal Air Force through a broad mix of capabilities to enhance operational effectiveness. This Government is investing an additional £2 billion this Parliament into autonomous systems, including drones, and will establish a new Defence Uncrewed Systems Centre at initial operating capability by February 2026. The exact types of uncrewed systems to be procured and the associated investment will be determined as part of the Defence Investment Plan.

What discussions his Department has had with the former UK Ambassador to the US on the purchase of defence equipment from the US.

The UK Ambassador to the United States, met routinely with senior Defence officials to discuss a range of issues across the UK-US relationship, including opportunities for closer collaboration on technology partnership, AUKUS and other ways to deepen the UK-US bilateral relationship.