Ministry of Defence

The Government has engaged closely with a wide range of military stakeholders in relation to the Troubles Bill to ensure that the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill effectively supports veterans. This has involved meeting with veterans and current serving members of the Armed Forces whose service took place across different time periods, including during Op BANNER, and across a wide range of regiments. This has included myself, and other Ministerial colleagues across Government meeting with members of the Associations on several occasions.

It may be helpful to further quantify that since 5 July 2024, in my previous, and current Ministerial role, I have conducted over 70 veterans’ engagements, where I spoke with hundreds of veterans, from all Services and cohorts, from a wide range of different associations, about a number of matters.

The Government has engaged closely with a wide range of military stakeholders in relation to the Troubles Bill to ensure that the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill effectively supports veterans. This has involved meeting with veterans and current serving members of the Armed Forces whose service took place across different time periods, including during Op BANNER, and across a wide range of regiments. This has included myself, and other Ministerial colleagues across Government meeting with members of the Associations on several occasions.

It may be helpful to further quantify that since 5 July 2024, in my previous, and current Ministerial role, I have conducted over 70 veterans’ engagements, where I spoke with hundreds of veterans, from all Services and cohorts, from a wide range of different associations, about a number of matters.

The Government is unstinting in its admiration and gratitude for our Armed Forces. We expect the highest standards of our Service personnel and they serve with great distinction. We rightly hold them to account when they fall short.

We are committed to supporting our people who act reasonably and in good faith in the course of their duties. Legal advice and welfare support are available to all serving and former members of the Armed Forces, where they face criminal allegations that relate to their service.

The next full capability review will occur within NATO’s current four-year NDPP cycle, which runs until 2027.

Given the hon. Gentleman’s former role as the Minister for Defence Procurement he will be aware of the details of the New Medium Helicopter (NMH) contract. We have improved upon that deal, renewing and strengthening MOD’s relationship with a key industry partner.

Aside from the contract to supply 23 AW149 aircraft, Leonardo have agreed that future military international orders will be built in the UK, with an increased workshare for the UK above 40%. Moreover, Leonardo have also agreed to make the United Kingdom the home of exports for the AW149, with the potential for over £15 billion of export opportunities over the next decade.

In addition, Leonardo have agreed to make Yeovil their global centre of excellence for autonomous helicopters, building on the ongoing successful development of Project Proteus.

The £1 billion deal with Leonardo for NMH does not include funding committed to Proteus. Proteus is a £60 million programme, with information on the additional funding to be published in due course.

Given the hon. Gentleman’s former role as the Minister for Defence Procurement he will be aware of the details of the New Medium Helicopter (NMH) contract. We have improved upon that deal, renewing and strengthening MOD’s relationship with a key industry partner.

Aside from the contract to supply 23 AW149 aircraft, Leonardo have agreed that future military international orders will be built in the UK, with an increased workshare for the UK above 40%. Moreover, Leonardo have also agreed to make the United Kingdom the home of exports for the AW149, with the potential for over £15 billion of export opportunities over the next decade.

In addition, Leonardo have agreed to make Yeovil their global centre of excellence for autonomous helicopters, building on the ongoing successful development of Project Proteus.

The £1 billion deal with Leonardo for NMH does not include funding committed to Proteus. Proteus is a £60 million programme, with information on the additional funding to be published in due course.

Given the hon. Gentleman’s former role as the Minister for Defence Procurement he will be aware of the details of the New Medium Helicopter (NMH) contract. We have improved upon that deal, renewing and strengthening MOD’s relationship with a key industry partner.

Aside from the contract to supply 23 AW149 aircraft, Leonardo have agreed that future military international orders will be built in the UK, with an increased workshare for the UK above 40%. Moreover, Leonardo have also agreed to make the United Kingdom the home of exports for the AW149, with the potential for over £15 billion of export opportunities over the next decade.

In addition, Leonardo have agreed to make Yeovil their global centre of excellence for autonomous helicopters, building on the ongoing successful development of Project Proteus.

The £1 billion deal with Leonardo for NMH does not include funding committed to Proteus. Proteus is a £60 million programme, with information on the additional funding to be published in due course.

The SONUS system is an Acoustic Weapon Locating capability part of a wider programme which is delivering the next generation of Weapon Locating Sensors to enhance the capabilities of the 5^th Regiment Royal Artillery.

In January 2026, Leonardo UK was awarded a contract to deliver eight SONUS Acoustic Weapon Locating Sensors to the British Army. This state-of-the-art technology will play a critical role in enhancing the Army’s ability to detect and locate weapon systems with precision and efficiency.

As part of the delivery schedule, 5th Regiment Royal Artillery will receive two sensors by the end of FY 2025-26, enabling the achievement of Minimum Deployable Capability. The remaining six systems will be delivered in FY 2026-27, achieving the Full Deployable Capability before year end.

The SONUS system is an Acoustic Weapon Locating capability part of a wider programme which is delivering the next generation of Weapon Locating Sensors to enhance the capabilities of the 5^th Regiment Royal Artillery.

In January 2026, Leonardo UK was awarded a contract to deliver eight SONUS Acoustic Weapon Locating Sensors to the British Army. This state-of-the-art technology will play a critical role in enhancing the Army’s ability to detect and locate weapon systems with precision and efficiency.

As part of the delivery schedule, 5th Regiment Royal Artillery will receive two sensors by the end of FY 2025-26, enabling the achievement of Minimum Deployable Capability. The remaining six systems will be delivered in FY 2026-27, achieving the Full Deployable Capability before year end.

The Strategic Defence Review sets a path for the next decade and beyond to transform Defence and make the UK stronger both at home and abroad. The Government endorsed the Review’s vision and accepted all 62 recommendations. The lead reviewers played a valuable role in shaping its analysis and recommendations and, while they have no formal role now, we are regularly engaged with them .

We are working flat out to complete the Defence Industrial Plan and this will be published as soon as possible.

As the Chief of Defence Staff has said, following Iran’s reckless retaliation, recommended last Tuesday that HMS Dragon should be deployed. Ministers then signed this off immediately.

HMS Dragon will be armed with the necessary available capabilities to meet the operational need and will remain in the region for as long as required to meet our objectives.

As the Chief of Defence Staff has said, following Iran’s reckless retaliation, recommended last Tuesday that HMS Dragon should be deployed. Ministers then signed this off immediately.

HMS Dragon will be armed with the necessary available capabilities to meet the operational need and will remain in the region for as long as required to meet our objectives.

As the Chief of Defence Staff has said, following Iran’s reckless retaliation, recommended last Tuesday that HMS Dragon should be deployed. Ministers then signed this off immediately.

HMS Dragon will be armed with the necessary available capabilities to meet the operational need and will remain in the region for as long as required to meet our objectives.

As the Chief of Defence Staff has said, following Iran’s reckless retaliation, recommended last Tuesday that HMS Dragon should be deployed. Ministers then signed this off immediately.

HMS Dragon will be armed with the necessary available capabilities to meet the operational need and will remain in the region for as long as required to meet our objectives.

I responded to the right hon. Member on 4 March 2026.

The low-cost air defence effector project under the LEAP initiative, as announced on 20 February, is entering the concept demonstration phase. The total cost to the UK of delivering the new surface-to-air weapon system will be dependent on the chosen solution and quantities procured.

The low-cost air defence effector project under the LEAP initiative, as announced on 20 February, is now entering the international industrial selection phase. UK workshare and company involvement will be dependent on the chosen solutions.

The low-cost air defence effector project under the LEAP initiative, as announced on 20 February, is now entering the international industrial selection phase. UK workshare and company involvement will be dependent on the chosen solutions.

The low-cost air defence effector project under the LEAP initiative, as announced on 20 February, is now entering the international industrial selection phase. UK workshare and company involvement will be dependent on the chosen solutions.

No UK military facilities have been used for the testing and training of Watchkeeper X.

Officials from The Ministry of Defence (MOD) regularly attend meetings to discuss matters of national security, defence and resilience as well as the associated public communications required to deliver these lines of efforts. The conversation on National Defence was a recommendation in the 2025 Strategic Defence Review (SDR), which the Government accepted. The Ministry of Defence is the lead department for delivering the SDR, with support from the Cabinet Office, and particularly from the National Security Secretariat.

As set out in the SDR, the national conversation will be a multi-year, cross-departmental effort designed to deliver on the whole-of-society approach to national security and defence allowing Government, the private sector and public to play their part in strengthening the UK’s resilience to any potential future shocks. This work addresses the risks and threats the UK faces, including those below and above the threshold of an armed attack.

The MOD is actively supporting this work, particularly playing a key role within the Cabinet Office-led Home Defence Programme. This is clear from the recent comments by the Chief of the Defence Staff at the Munich Security Conference. This work is supported at official level, through the Directorate for Defence Security Policy.

The Royal Air Force in conjunction with the Ministry of Defence Directorate Analytics are able to provide an estimated cost of the price per litre of both Conventional Aviation Turbine and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in each year from 2025-2040, and the marginal cost difference between them. However, the data in the below table is subject to change dependent on market fluctuation of fuel costs.

The below forecasts are in United States Dollars (USD) per litre and will be subjected to currency conversion, which is changeable. Oil is generally bought and sold on the market in USD.

The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) is the next step in turning the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) into action. It is the first zero-based review of Defence’s budgets in eighteen years and goes significantly further than the last Government’s Equipment Plan by looking across every budget line, including people and infrastructure.

We will publish it as soon as we can, but our aim is to ensure decisions in the DIP are robust and support the development of both current and future capabilities, helping to drive the transformation of our Armed Forces described in the Strategic Defence Review.

Defence is an engine for growth, and small businesses are the backbone of UK defence, bringing the innovation, agility and fresh thinking that our Armed Forces need to stay ahead of evolving threats.

As announced by the Prime Minister and Secretary of State of Defence last year, this Government is committed to supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), including an ambitious but achievable target to increase our spend with SMEs by £2.5 billion by 2028. The department's forthcoming SME Action Plan will lay out what steps we will be taking during 2026 and 2027 to achieve this uplift by 2028.

We intend to fit the Type 31 frigate with the Mark 41 vertical launch system. Working closely with the US Navy, we are progressing the next steps of the Mk41 procurement, including assessment of all installation and integration options. At this stage, as I hope the hon. Gentleman will understand, it would be inappropriate to provide any further information whilst this commercially sensitive work is ongoing.

We intend to fit the Type 31 frigate with the Mark 41 vertical launch system. Working closely with the US Navy, we are progressing the next steps of the Mk41 procurement, including assessment of all installation and integration options. At this stage, as I hope the hon. Gentleman will understand, it would be inappropriate to provide any further information whilst this commercially sensitive work is ongoing.

The Standing Naval Forces are under the control of NATO Allied Maritime Command which responds to Allied Command Operations. This multinational, integrated force is continuously available for tasking, ranging from NATO missions to exercise participation.

Project FLYTRAP (formerly Project VANAHEIM) is a joint UK/US/Australian Army initiative focused on countering small uncrewed aerial systems.

The project aims to accelerate the British Army’s ability to address this threat through operational experimentation, system integration, and evidence-based capability development. It is evaluating a range of sensors, effectors, networks and tactics in realistic field conditions to inform doctrine and support future capability decisions.

The Ministry of Defence works closely with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to ensure that preparedness plans are in place in the case of a natural disaster impacting the Overseas Territories in the Caribbean, including Anguilla.

No entitled Armed Forces personnel or their families are placed on a waiting list for Service Family Accommodation in the UK.

The hon. Member will recall that when this Government took office, we cancelled the VIP helicopter contract that had attracted so much criticism in previous years when used by the previous Government.

The current RAF Command Support Air Transport fleet consists of two RAF Envoy IV fixed wing aircraft. The fleet is used for the rapid and efficient transport of small numbers of high priority passengers or freight to deliver critical diplomatic engagement and/or military output. These aircraft offer a flexibility of response unachievable by other means and avoids the use of larger, more expensive, and less discreet aircraft. The Cabinet Office has responsibility for organising Ministerial helicopter transport. There are no military helicopters in the Command Support Air Transport fleet.

The Army continually reviews equipment allocations to ensure training needs are met. For operational security reasons, we do not release details of equipment holdings, changes in quantities, or future allocations at specific locations, including the British Army Training Unit Kenya.

The Army continually reviews equipment allocations to ensure training needs are met. For operational security reasons, we do not release details of equipment holdings, changes in quantities, or future allocations at specific locations, including the British Army Training Unit Kenya.

As at October 2025 (latest available figure) there were 200 UK Regular¹ Armed Forces Service personnel permanently stationed² at the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK³).

Notes/Caveats

1. UK Regulars comprise full time service personnel, including Nursing Services, but excluding Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) personnel, Gurkhas, Mobilised Reservists, Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS), Locally Engaged Personnel (LEP), Non Regular Permanent Staff (NRPS), High Readiness Reserve (HRR) and Expeditionary Forces Institute (EFI) personnel. Includes trained and untrained personnel.
2. The figures are based on Service personnel's stationed location and not their location of residence - where personnel work isn't necessarily where they live. Personnel deployed on operations to an area away from their stationed location are shown against their most recent stationed location. The Royal Navy/Royal Marines personnel on sea service are included against the local authority containing the home port of their ship.
3. BATUK has been derived from the Location Unit field in Joint Personnel Administration (JPA).
4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 to prevent inadvertent disclosure. However, numbers ending in "5" have been rounded to the nearest 20 to prevent systematic bias.

Table 1. Number of UK Regular¹ Armed Forces Service Personnel stationed² at BATUK³ 2016 – 2025.

Source: Analysis(Tri Service)

Notes/Caveats

1. UK Regulars comprise full time service personnel, including Nursing Services, but excluding Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) personnel, Gurkhas, Mobilised Reservists, Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS), Locally Engaged Personnel (LEP), Non Regular Permanent Staff (NRPS), High Readiness Reserve (HRR) and Expeditionary Forces Institute (EFI) personnel. Includes trained and untrained personnel.
2. The figures are based on Service personnel's stationed location and not their location of residence - where personnel work isn't necessarily where they live. Personnel deployed on operations to an area away from their stationed location are shown against their most recent stationed location. The Royal Navy/Royal Marines personnel on sea service are included against the local authority containing the home port of their ship.
3. BATUK has been derived from the Location Unit field in Joint Personnel Administration (JPA).
4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 to prevent inadvertent disclosure. However, numbers ending in "5" have been rounded to the nearest 20 to prevent systematic bias.

Table 2. Number of unique UK Armed Forces Service Personnel³ Deployed² to BATUK⁷ in each of the last 10 Financial Years^5,6,8

Source: Analysis (Tri Service)

Notes/Caveats

1. Deployment data are derived from the Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) `Move and Track` system. Due to ongoing validation of data from JPA, figures provided are provisional and subject to change. Figures have been derived from the October 2025 deployment extract.
2. Deployment data are derived from the Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) `Move and Track` system. Due to ongoing validation of data from JPA, figures provided are provisional and subject to change. Figures have been derived from the October 2025 deployment extract.
3. ‘UK Forces Service Personnel’ comprises UK Regular Forces, Gurkhas, Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS), Locally Engaged Personnel (LEP), Volunteer Reserve, Serving Regular Reserve, Sponsored Reserve, and Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS).
4. Service personnel data is derived from the JPA system, which is a combination of mandatory and non-mandatory fields populated by unit administrators and voluntary fields that Armed Forces personnel can choose to complete based on their perceptions.
5. The Date of Deployment is the 'deployed date in' as recorded on JPA 'Move and Track' system. This is the date personnel deployed into the respective count.
6. Please note: the total does not include repeat tours within the same calendar year so each individual is only recorded once per financial year. If personnel began a deployment in multiple financial years, then they would be reported in each financial year they were deployed in. Hence, figures can not be combined to give an overall number of unique personnel deployed over this whole period.
7. BATUK has been derived from the Location Unit field in Joint Personnel Administration (JPA).
8. The Financial Year for Defence Statistics purposes starts on 1 April and ends on 31 March.
9. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 to prevent inadvertent disclosure. However, numbers ending in "5" have been rounded to the nearest 20 to prevent systematic bias.

As at October 2025 (latest available figure) there were 200 UK Regular¹ Armed Forces Service personnel permanently stationed² at the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK³).

Notes/Caveats

1. UK Regulars comprise full time service personnel, including Nursing Services, but excluding Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) personnel, Gurkhas, Mobilised Reservists, Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS), Locally Engaged Personnel (LEP), Non Regular Permanent Staff (NRPS), High Readiness Reserve (HRR) and Expeditionary Forces Institute (EFI) personnel. Includes trained and untrained personnel.
2. The figures are based on Service personnel's stationed location and not their location of residence - where personnel work isn't necessarily where they live. Personnel deployed on operations to an area away from their stationed location are shown against their most recent stationed location. The Royal Navy/Royal Marines personnel on sea service are included against the local authority containing the home port of their ship.
3. BATUK has been derived from the Location Unit field in Joint Personnel Administration (JPA).
4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 to prevent inadvertent disclosure. However, numbers ending in "5" have been rounded to the nearest 20 to prevent systematic bias.

Table 1. Number of UK Regular¹ Armed Forces Service Personnel stationed² at BATUK³ 2016 – 2025.

Source: Analysis(Tri Service)

Notes/Caveats

1. UK Regulars comprise full time service personnel, including Nursing Services, but excluding Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) personnel, Gurkhas, Mobilised Reservists, Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS), Locally Engaged Personnel (LEP), Non Regular Permanent Staff (NRPS), High Readiness Reserve (HRR) and Expeditionary Forces Institute (EFI) personnel. Includes trained and untrained personnel.
2. The figures are based on Service personnel's stationed location and not their location of residence - where personnel work isn't necessarily where they live. Personnel deployed on operations to an area away from their stationed location are shown against their most recent stationed location. The Royal Navy/Royal Marines personnel on sea service are included against the local authority containing the home port of their ship.
3. BATUK has been derived from the Location Unit field in Joint Personnel Administration (JPA).
4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 to prevent inadvertent disclosure. However, numbers ending in "5" have been rounded to the nearest 20 to prevent systematic bias.

Table 2. Number of unique UK Armed Forces Service Personnel³ Deployed² to BATUK⁷ in each of the last 10 Financial Years^5,6,8

Source: Analysis (Tri Service)

Notes/Caveats

1. Deployment data are derived from the Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) `Move and Track` system. Due to ongoing validation of data from JPA, figures provided are provisional and subject to change. Figures have been derived from the October 2025 deployment extract.
2. Deployment data are derived from the Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) `Move and Track` system. Due to ongoing validation of data from JPA, figures provided are provisional and subject to change. Figures have been derived from the October 2025 deployment extract.
3. ‘UK Forces Service Personnel’ comprises UK Regular Forces, Gurkhas, Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS), Locally Engaged Personnel (LEP), Volunteer Reserve, Serving Regular Reserve, Sponsored Reserve, and Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS).
4. Service personnel data is derived from the JPA system, which is a combination of mandatory and non-mandatory fields populated by unit administrators and voluntary fields that Armed Forces personnel can choose to complete based on their perceptions.
5. The Date of Deployment is the 'deployed date in' as recorded on JPA 'Move and Track' system. This is the date personnel deployed into the respective count.
6. Please note: the total does not include repeat tours within the same calendar year so each individual is only recorded once per financial year. If personnel began a deployment in multiple financial years, then they would be reported in each financial year they were deployed in. Hence, figures can not be combined to give an overall number of unique personnel deployed over this whole period.
7. BATUK has been derived from the Location Unit field in Joint Personnel Administration (JPA).
8. The Financial Year for Defence Statistics purposes starts on 1 April and ends on 31 March.
9. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 to prevent inadvertent disclosure. However, numbers ending in "5" have been rounded to the nearest 20 to prevent systematic bias.

As you will be aware, I released a written Ministerial Statement in the House on 22 January 2026 in which I provided an update to Parliament on the British Army’s Armoured Cavalry Programme (commonly known as Ajax) and the findings of the Ministerial review which has now concluded. It would not be appropriate to release any further specific details than those contained in my previous statement.

As the Secretary of State has publicly said, Peter Mandelson had no influence or involvement in the Defence Enterprise Agreement with Palantir.

We are working flat out to finalise the Defence Investment Plan and it will be published as soon as possible.

The previous Government established the Afghanistan Response Route (ARR) for individuals affected by the February 2022 data incident considered to be at highest risk as a result of the incident.

Under the scheme around 900 ARR principals are in Britain or in transit, with 3,600 family members.

As the Defence Secretary outlined in his statement, on 15 July 2025, the Ministry of Defence took action to notify as many of those affected as possible by the incident using the most recent contact details held by the department and provided security advice. An online self-checker tool and an Information Service Centre (ISC), which included 24/7 telephone and email support for all affected individuals, were also stood up to assist people in finding out whether they were affected by the data incident. The ISC continued for a number of months and was gradually wound down, in accordance with demand. It was closed in October 2025, but the online self-checker tool remains available on gov.uk.

The previous Government established the Afghanistan Response Route (ARR) for individuals affected by the February 2022 data incident considered to be at highest risk as a result of the incident.

Under the scheme around 900 ARR principals are in Britain or in transit, with 3,600 family members.

As the Defence Secretary outlined in his statement, on 15 July 2025, the Ministry of Defence took action to notify as many of those affected as possible by the incident using the most recent contact details held by the department and provided security advice. An online self-checker tool and an Information Service Centre (ISC), which included 24/7 telephone and email support for all affected individuals, were also stood up to assist people in finding out whether they were affected by the data incident. The ISC continued for a number of months and was gradually wound down, in accordance with demand. It was closed in October 2025, but the online self-checker tool remains available on gov.uk.

The Strategic Defence Review sets a path for the next decade and beyond to transform Defence and make the UK stronger both at home and abroad. The Government endorsed the Review's vision and accepted all 62 recommendations.

Although they have no formal role, we often engage with the lead reviewers.

We are committed to ensuring that our forces are equipped with the best possible kit for the future, both men and women. We are ensuring that our Service personnel are equipped with appropriate and sufficient protective equipment. As part of this commitment, we are delivering an update to body armour for all UK personnel through the Tactical Ballistic Plates (TBP) project.

Assessments of the effectiveness of body armour are conducted as a key part of the selection process prior to any contract award. These assessments are carried out against a detailed set of performance criteria derived from a classified threat assessment, ensuring that the armour provides the required level of protection against relevant ballistic threats.

The in-service hard armour plates and soft armour filler are subject to regular inspection and testing to ensure their continued integrity and the protection levels they are designed to provide for all personnel.

The Department continues to work closely with General Dynamics on the Ajax Programme. Investigations into Ajax remain ongoing, and time must be given to ensure that all information and evidence is considered. I will continue to keep the house informed of developments as I have done since the issue arose on Exercise TITAN STORM.