Written questions by Cartlidge.

With reference to the press release entitled UK to purchase F-35As and join NATO mission as Government steps up national security and delivers defence dividend, published on 24 June 2025, whether he consulted the lead reviewers of the Strategic Defence Review on the decision to purchase F-35As.

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) recommended that, to ensure the RAF remains at the leading edge of combat air's evolution, additional F-35 aircraft will be required over the next decade. The SDR further stated that this could include a mix of F-35A and F-35B models, based on military requirements, to deliver greater operational flexibility and value for money.

With reference to the Government press release entitled UK to purchase F-35As and join NATO mission as Government steps up national security and delivers defence dividend, published on 24 June 2025, when his Department expects the RAF to have access to air-launched nuclear weapons to use in conjunction with F-35A aircraft.

It is longstanding UK and NATO policy to neither confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons at any given location. Accordingly, I will not comment on timeframes in which UK F35A aircraft will have access to US air-launched nuclear weapons.

What steps he is taking to accelerate approvals by the Military Aviation Authority for the use of (a) reconnaissance and (b) kinetic drones on UK military bases.

The process for Military Aviation Authority (MAA) approvals of Ministry of Defence (MOD) Uncrewed Air System (UAS) [1] activity is detailed in Regulatory Article 1600 with amplification within the UAS Manual available on the www.gov.uk website. The approvals process is proportionate to the operating intent and level of risk to life posed. The approval is a one-off process for a MOD organisation to operate a type of UAS i.e. a licence to operate and not an approval per flight. The majority of MOD UAS used for airborne reconnaissance on MOD bases are small ‘Open category’ UAS requiring submission of a limited safety checklist for MAA approval. The MAA guarantees a response within 60 days, but over 90% of applications are processed in under 30 days and those with higher priority processed in under 24 hours. The agile approach adopted by the MAA has been welcomed. Approvals for weaponised ‘kinetic drones’ is necessarily more complex. Approval timelines are dependent on the technical maturity of the system, risk to life posed, location of use and safety mitigations in place, to ensure an appropriate level of safety to military users and the UK population.[1] MAA Regulations are transitioning to the term ‘Uncrewed Air System’ rather than ‘drone’ or ‘Remotely Piloted Air System’ in order to align with nomenclature of ICAO and NATO nations.

With reference to the Government press release entitled UK to purchase F-35As and join NATO mission as Government steps up national security and delivers defence dividend, published on 24 June 2025, what the total cost is of his Department's order to purchase 12 new F-35A fighter jets.

The procurement of 12 F-35A rather than 12 F-35B is expected to deliver a saving of up to 25% per aircraft. Final prices will be identified during contract negotiation.

What steps he is taking to ensure the British army is able to train in trench warfare conditions across the defence estate.

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), through its contactors, maintain the Defence Training Estate (DTE) to ensure it provides suitable training facilities for the Armed Forces, which can include trench warfare. These are available to be booked by the Armed Forces for training as required.

With reference to the press release entitled UK to purchase F-35As and join NATO mission as Government steps up national security and delivers defence dividend, published on 24 June 2025, what proportion of time the purchased F-35As will spend on (a) operations and (b) training.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Ben Obese-Jecty) to Question 63065 on 2 July 2025.

What proportion of reservists received a tax free bounty in the last financial year.

Of the Volunteer Reserve and High Readiness Reserve population for the Financial Year 2024-25, 46% were paid an Annual Bounty Payment.

With reference to the press release entitled UK to purchase F-35As and join NATO mission as Government steps up national security and delivers defence dividend, published on 24 June 2025, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Royal Air Force's air to air refuelling capability for F35As.

I refer the hon. member to the answer I gave to Question 63066 on 4 July 2025 to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Ben Obese-Jecty).

With reference to the press release entitled UK to purchase F-35As and join NATO mission as Government steps up national security and delivers defence dividend, published on 24 June 2025, what the in service date is for the F-35A aircraft purchased.

Negotiations with the Joint Programme Office to agree the contract and the schedule for order and delivery of the aircraft are ongoing.

How many drones have been purchased by the British army for use in sport since 5 July 2024, by unit.

Military or Army drones are designed for tactical and operational applications such as surveillance, reconnaissance, target acquisition and strike. Operation of these systems require assured Military Aviation Authority (MAA) training to ensure both their effectiveness on the battlefield and the safety of other air users. Sports drones, or racing drones as they are commonly known, are used for competitive drone racing or freestyle flying. Designed and built for speed and agility they are commonly flown on closed circuits in controlled environments. Their utility in Defence is principally for development of skills and competency in the use of uncrewed systems. The British Army Drone Sport Association (BADSA) is the Governing Body for drone sports in the British Army. Drones used for sport-related activity are separate to official Army drone capabilities and are purchased via a different procurement route, off the shelf. The following table shows the type and number of sporting drones, by unit, purchased by the Joint Drone Academy (JDA). UnitDrone TypeNumbers2nd Parachute Regiment5” Racing Drones14Tiny Whoop Drones73rd Parachute Regiment5” Racing Drones14Tiny Whoop Drones72nd Royal Gurkha Rifles5” Racing Drones10Tiny Whoop Drones51st Royal Irish Regiment5” Racing Drones10Tiny Whoop Drones52nd Ranger Regiment5” Racing Drones4Tiny Whoop Drones34th Ranger Regiment5” Racing Drones4Tiny Whoop Drones32nd Yorks Experimentation & Trials Group5” Racing Drones8Tiny Whoop Drones4Combat Manoeuvre Centre & Uncrewed Air Systems Centre5” Racing Drones20Tiny Whoop Drones10 Additionally, some units have purchased drones for sport using unit funds which fall outside of the scope of the JDA.

How may electronic counter measure kits are in use by the British army; and if he will publish a list of units in which they are used.

Generalist Force Protection equipment entered service with the Armed Forces between 2009 and 2014 in response to an Urgent Operational Requirement and was subsequently brought into the Core Equipment Plan, ensuring the maintenance of fleets. Specialist Explosive Ordnance Disposal equipment was last refreshed in support of the 2012 London Olympics. The current Electronic Counter Measures (ECMs) have an Out of Service Date of March 2027. The current ECM systems are held centrally by the British Army and are distributed to the land forces (Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Airforce) during Operations at the time of requirement. For reasons of operational security, I am unable to provide further details relating to ECM utilised by the Department.

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 39917 on Unmanned Air Systems: Procurement, how many military drones in (a) logistics, (b) strike and (c) intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance roles were purchased by his Department since 25 March 2025.

Due to operational security, we cannot provide details on the numbers or types of military drones purchased by the Ministry of Defence for its own purposes or on behalf of the Drone Capability Coalition or those purchased for Ukraine.

For each British Army Unit holding stocks of electronic counter measure kits, what the (a) in service and (b) out of service dates are in each case.

Generalist Force Protection equipment entered service with the Armed Forces between 2009 and 2014 in response to an Urgent Operational Requirement and was subsequently brought into the Core Equipment Plan, ensuring the maintenance of fleets. Specialist Explosive Ordnance Disposal equipment was last refreshed in support of the 2012 London Olympics. The current Electronic Counter Measures (ECMs) have an Out of Service Date of March 2027. The current ECM systems are held centrally by the British Army and are distributed to the land forces (Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Airforce) during Operations at the time of requirement. For reasons of operational security, I am unable to provide further details relating to ECM utilised by the Department.

With reference to the Government press release entitled UK to purchase F-35As and join NATO mission as Government steps up national security and delivers defence dividend, published on 24 June 2025, when his Department expects the new F-35As to be certified to use nuclear weapons.

The nuclear weapons allocated to the NATO nuclear mission are US weapons and the US needs to certify that any aircraft or personnel allocated to the mission are appropriately trained and equipped. We will continue to work closely with the US on the timeline to deliver this capability for the UK, including certification.

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 42299 on Defence Growth Board, whether the Defence Growth Board has met since 3 April 2025.

The purpose of the Defence Growth Board is to maximise Defence’s contribution to the government’s Growth Mission. The Chancellor and Secretary of State for Defence meet regularly, including with representatives of the defence industry and financial sector, to ensure that this government is delivering for defence. The Board has met to build on this work.

If he will provide a breakdown of the £7bn announced for defence housing that will be spent on (a) Service Family Accommodation and (b) Single Living Accommodation.

The Ministry of Defence is currently undertaking an extensive review of its entire Military Accommodation portfolio, including how the department will make best use of the properties that have been reacquired from Annington, and which homes and locations can most benefit from investment. The Defence Housing Strategy, to be published later this year, will set out wider plans to improve the standard of Service family homes. The sites that will be refurbished are being worked through carefully, with the ambition to fairly make improvements across the devolved nations within the UK. It is too early to say where funding will be spent.

With reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for the Armed Forces in response to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield at Defence Questions on 19 May 2025, Official Report, Col 739, what recent discussions he has had with UK drone component suppliers on up to date drone (a) technology and (b) capability.

Defence routinely engages with drone component suppliers to iterate, and spiral develop capability in close cooperation with allies. One of the key mechanisms to ensure that Defence is up to date with the latest developments in drone technology and associated tactics is learning lessons from global conflicts and through our support to Ukraine, where drone capabilities are developed and exploited in cooperation with drone component suppliers. As outlined in the Strategic Defence Review, Defence will continue to invest in drone technology to advance our capabilities in tandem with UK industry.

What her planned timetable is for setting out how the UK will fund GDP on defence expenditure of (a) 3 percent in the next Parliament and (b) 3.5 percent by the Parliament after next.

As confirmed in the Spending Review 2025, this government has a fully funded path to reaching 2.6% NATO qualifying defence spending by 2027, with an ambition to reach 3% by the end of the next parliament, when fiscal and economic conditions allow. We will set budgets for the next Spending Review period at SR27. The NATO Defence Investment Pledge will be reviewed by NATO Allies in 2029.

With reference to the Government press release entitled UK to deliver on 5% NATO pledge as Government drives greater security for working people, published on 23 June 2025, if she will list (a) all Government departments that will be included in the commitment to spend 1.5% of GDP on resilience and security and (b) the financial quantum in each case.

NATO provides reporting guidelines for the 1.5% defence and security related spending. It includes investments that raise the overall resilience of our societies, such as energy security, telecommunications, and infrastructure, as well as the execution of defence plans, expanding industrial capacity and innovation and counter hybrid actions.Our National Security Strategy confirms our belief that these types of investment are vital to national security and we are pleased that this is now recognised by NATO. As set out in the Spending Review 2025, this government is making significant investment into these areas and we are confident we will meet the 1.5% target on defence and security related spending.Along with all other NATO allies, the UK will report against the new categories of defence spending at the next NATO reporting deadline.

With reference to the Government press release entitled UK to deliver on 5% NATO pledge as Government drives greater security for working people, published on 23 June 2025, if she will publish a breakdown of the ten largest areas of government expenditure that will be reclassified under the commitment to spend 1.5 percent of GDP on resilience and security.

NATO provides reporting guidelines for the 1.5% defence and security related spending. It includes investments that raise the overall resilience of our societies, such as energy security, telecommunications, and infrastructure, as well as the execution of defence plans, expanding industrial capacity and innovation and counter hybrid actions.Our National Security Strategy confirms our belief that these types of investment are vital to national security and we are pleased that this is now recognised by NATO. As set out in the Spending Review 2025, this government is making significant investment into these areas and we are confident we will meet the 1.5% target on defence and security related spending.Along with all other NATO allies, the UK will report against the new categories of defence spending at the next NATO reporting deadline.