We protect the security, independence and interests of our country at home and abroad. We work with our allies and partners whenever possible. Our aim is to ensure that the armed forces have the training, equipment and support necessary for their work, and that we keep within budget.
The inquiry will examine the current and emerging threats in the region. It will ask what the UK’s defence and …
Oral Answers to Questions is a regularly scheduled appearance where the Secretary of State and junior minister will answer at the Dispatch Box questions from backbench MPs
Other Commons Chamber appearances can be:Westminster Hall debates are performed in response to backbench MPs or e-petitions asking for a Minister to address a detailed issue
Written Statements are made when a current event is not sufficiently significant to require an Oral Statement, but the House is required to be informed.
Ministry of Defence does not have Bills currently before Parliament
A Bill to establish, and confer functions on, the Armed Forces Commissioner; to abolish the office of Service Complaints Ombudsman; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 3rd September 2025 and was enacted into law.
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
Commons Select Committees are a formally established cross-party group of backbench MPs tasked with holding a Government department to account.
At any time there will be number of ongoing investigations into the work of the Department, or issues which fall within the oversight of the Department. Witnesses can be summoned from within the Government and outside to assist in these inquiries.
Select Committee findings are reported to the Commons, printed, and published on the Parliament website. The government then usually has 60 days to reply to the committee's recommendations.
The Ministry of Defence conducts regular spot checks on all contracts in scope of PPN 021: Payment Spot Checks in Public Sub-Contracts to ensure compliance with the 30-day payment term across the supply chain. The results of these checks are published online, and appropriate action would be taken against suppliers failing to meet the payment requirements of the Procurement Act 2023.
All suppliers and their subcontractors are encouraged, through tender documentation, to commit to good payment practices by registering with the Fair Payment Code. This demonstrates their commitment to timely and fair payment practices.
While ORCUS+ is not optimised to defeat One-Way Attack UAS, it offers an enhanced ability to detect, track and identify, increasing a kinetic system’s ability to defeat but no system can be 100% effective. This is why our defences in the Eastern Mediterranean now include Typhon and F-35 jets, air defence and counter-drone units, Wildcat and Merlin helicopters, and a further 400 air defence personnel are currently deployed to protect British lives and interests.
As part of its routine responsibilities, the Ministry of Defence conducts assessments of the military capabilities of other states. To protect operational security and safeguard national defence interests, the results of these assessments are not made public.
The Ministry of Defence continually assesses how Ukrainian battlefield innovation can inform the UK's own capabilities. The conflict has shown the need to accelerate the learn-adapt cycle, with concepts moving from design to battlefield use within weeks.
The UK is seeking to identify lessons driven by rapid collection and analysis of frontline data. Forward technical expertise and open dialogue with operators will allow industry to innovate and scale production more quickly.
There is acknowledgement of the importance of integrating UAS with traditional fires rather than seeing them as replacements. Ukraine's experience also highlights that operational surprise remains achievable through robust operational security and deception; the need for resilient Integrated Air and Missile Defence built on multiple effectors; and the imperative to train for contested and degraded electromagnetic environments.
The Ministry of Defence continually assesses how Ukrainian battlefield innovation can inform the UK's own capabilities. The conflict has shown the need to accelerate the learn-adapt cycle, with concepts moving from design to battlefield use within weeks.
The UK is seeking to identify lessons driven by rapid collection and analysis of frontline data. Forward technical expertise and open dialogue with operators will allow industry to innovate and scale production more quickly.
There is acknowledgement of the importance of integrating UAS with traditional fires rather than seeing them as replacements. Ukraine's experience also highlights that operational surprise remains achievable through robust operational security and deception; the need for resilient Integrated Air and Missile Defence built on multiple effectors; and the imperative to train for contested and degraded electromagnetic environments.
Detail on Operation Firecrest can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-carrier-strike-group-to-deploy-to-north-atlantic-to-keep-uk-safe I am unable to comment further at this time to do so would compromise the security of our forces and effectiveness of operations. Further detail about Operation Firecrest will be provided in due course.
Detail on Operation Firecrest can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-carrier-strike-group-to-deploy-to-north-atlantic-to-keep-uk-safe I am unable to comment further at this time to do so would compromise the security of our forces and effectiveness of operations. Further detail about Operation Firecrest will be provided in due course.
Detail on Operation Firecrest can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-carrier-strike-group-to-deploy-to-north-atlantic-to-keep-uk-safe I am unable to comment further at this time to do so would compromise the security of our forces and effectiveness of operations. Further detail about Operation Firecrest will be provided in due course.
Detail on Operation Firecrest can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-carrier-strike-group-to-deploy-to-north-atlantic-to-keep-uk-safe I am unable to comment further at this time to do so would compromise the security of our forces and effectiveness of operations. Further detail about Operation Firecrest will be provided in due course.
The Government has not asked the government of Greece to provide naval protection to UK interests on the island of Cyprus.
DragonFire is a cutting-edge Laser Directed Energy Weapon system that remains in its demonstration and evaluation phase. Under current plans, the DragonFire system will commence delivery in 2027.
The UK's performance against the NATO spending targets will continue to be reported directly to NATO in the usual way. There are no plans to change this long-standing process.
HMS Dauntless is presently engaged in her Fleet Time Support Period in line with the Royal Navy’s planned maintenance cycle. In accordance with established practice, the Royal Navy does not routinely comment on the detailed operational programme of its vessels
The Ministry of Defence does not comment on the tasks or plans for individual submarines for reasons of national security.
The Ministry of Defence does not comment on the tasks or plans for individual submarines for reasons of national security.
The Ministry of Defence does not comment on the tasks or plans for individual submarines for reasons of national security.
Both the Defence Secretary and Defence Officials remain in regular contact with US counterparts on a range of topics to ensure coherence and alignment between our two nations including operational matters.
The device struck a hangar.
We do not comment on specifics, however, the Government has been increasing the counter-drone capability in Cyprus since January, through the addition of 400 personnel, Typhoon and F-35 jets, air defence missiles, and radar. HMS Dragon is on the way to the region, which will provide additional capability. We will keep the situation under constant review, but I cannot say more than this for operational security reasons.
Detail on Operation Firecrest can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-carrier-strike-group-to-deploy-to-north-atlantic-to-keep-uk-s… I am unable to comment further at this time to do so would compromise the security of our forces and effectiveness of operations. Further detail about Operation Firecrest will be provided in due course.
In her statement to the House on 9 March, the Chancellor confirmed that she had approved access for the Ministry of Defence to the special reserve to deploy additional capabilities in the middle east.
In her statement to the House on 9 March, the Chancellor confirmed that she had approved access for the Ministry of Defence to the special reserve to deploy additional capabilities in the middle east.
The Secretary of State for Defence is committed to strengthening collaboration between Ukrainian and British defence innovators.
In cooperation with trade association ADS, the UK has delivered seven successful Trade Missions to Ukraine, bringing together UK industry and likeminded European partners to discuss opportunities for long-term cooperation and investment, and to promote greater collaboration with defence industrial companies inside Ukraine.
This month, I led the largest trade mission, with the UK welcoming five European partners and a record 35 UK companies from primes to SMEs, offering a range of innovative solutions.
On the first anniversary of the 100 Year Partnership (16 Jan 2026) it was announced that a new business centre will open in Kyiv this year to ensure Britain’s cutting-edge defence industry and innovators can step up their work to equip Ukraine’s Armed Forces. This facility will deliver jobs at home and bring Ukrainian and UK defence industries closer than ever while embedding the lessons from the battlefield.
Last year we announced that the UK will manufacture and jointly develop cutting-edge military equipment with Ukrainian industry through a groundbreaking new technology sharing agreement. This tech sharing agreement is called Programme Lyra.
The Secretary of State for Defence is committed to strengthening collaboration between Ukrainian and British defence innovators.
In cooperation with trade association ADS, the UK has delivered seven successful Trade Missions to Ukraine, bringing together UK industry and likeminded European partners to discuss opportunities for long-term cooperation and investment, and to promote greater collaboration with defence industrial companies inside Ukraine.
This month, I led the largest trade mission, with the UK welcoming five European partners and a record 35 UK companies from primes to SMEs, offering a range of innovative solutions.
On the first anniversary of the 100 Year Partnership (16 Jan 2026) it was announced that a new business centre will open in Kyiv this year to ensure Britain’s cutting-edge defence industry and innovators can step up their work to equip Ukraine’s Armed Forces. This facility will deliver jobs at home and bring Ukrainian and UK defence industries closer than ever while embedding the lessons from the battlefield.
Last year we announced that the UK will manufacture and jointly develop cutting-edge military equipment with Ukrainian industry through a groundbreaking new technology sharing agreement. This tech sharing agreement is called Programme Lyra.
I am withholding this information for reasons of safeguarding operational security.
I am withholding this information for reasons of safeguarding operational security.
I am withholding this information for reasons of safeguarding operational security.
I am withholding this information for reasons of safeguarding operational security.
The Ministry of Defence undertakes many hundreds of projects and programmes across the organisation. Information about the most strategically important and complex of these is published each year in the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) annual report.
Project CAIRNS is currently a pre-concept project and as such formal consideration of systems and specifications has not yet taken place.
Project SHRINKER is a Defence procurement project. For reasons of operational security, I cannot provide any further details.
The Secretary of State for Defence is committed to strengthening collaboration between Ukrainian, British and European defence innovators. In cooperation with trade association ADS, the UK has delivered seven successful Trade Missions to Ukraine, bringing together UK industry and likeminded European partners to discuss opportunities for long-term cooperation and investment, and to promote greater collaboration with defence industrial companies inside Ukraine.
This month, I led the largest trade mission, with the UK welcoming five European partners and a record 35 UK companies from primes to SMEs, offering a range of innovative solutions.
The Secretary of State for Defence is committed to fostering collaboration between Ukraine, British and European industry. In cooperation with trade association ADS, the UK has delivered seven successful Trade Missions to Ukraine, bringing together UK industry and likeminded European partners to discuss opportunities for long-term cooperation and investment, and to promote greater collaboration with defence industrial companies inside Ukraine.
This month, I led the largest trade mission, with the UK welcoming five European partners and a record 35 UK companies from primes to SMEs, offering a range of innovative solutions.
Last year we announced that the UK will manufacture and jointly develop cutting-edge military equipment with Ukrainian industry through a groundbreaking new technology sharing agreement. This tech sharing agreement is called Programme Lyra.
The Secretary of State for Defence continues to work closely with the Government of Ukraine and European allies on the sharing of knowledge and insight around autonomous systems, counter-drone technologies and missile defence whose technologists and armed forces are constantly evolving capabilities to address a variety of threats from Russia.
The Secretary of State for Defence continues to work closely with the Government of Ukraine on cooperation between the UK and Ukraine defence sectors. We are building a sustained defence industrial partnership between the UK and Ukraine which will develop industrial capacity while supporting UK and Ukrainian security.
The 100 Year Partnership between the UK and Ukraine facilities the rapid pursuit of sustainable production to create a dynamic ecosystem of defence innovation. We will carry out joint defence capability projects and encourage the establishment of joint defence enterprises, strengthening our defence capabilities and ensuring joint arms exports to foreign markets.
This March, I led the seventh and largest Trade Mission to Ukraine. The mission brought together government and industry officials from the UK, Europe, and Ukraine to discuss opportunities for long-term cooperation and investment, and to promote greater collaboration with defence industrial companies inside Ukraine.
This week [17 March 2026], the UK and Ukraine signed an enhanced security and defence industrial declaration, which strengthens collaboration between Ukrainian and British defence innovators. This latest step in the 100 Year Partnership recognises the growing role of advanced drone capabilities and data to help protect military forces, defence infrastructure and national security.
The Secretary of State for Defence is committed to strengthening collaboration between Ukrainian and British defence innovators.
In cooperation with trade association ADS, the UK has delivered seven successful Trade Missions to Ukraine, bringing together UK industry and likeminded European partners to discuss opportunities for long-term cooperation and investment, and to promote greater collaboration with defence industrial companies inside Ukraine.
This month, I led the largest trade mission, with the UK welcoming five European partners and a record 35 UK companies from primes to SMEs, offering a range of innovative solutions.
Last year we announced that the UK will manufacture and jointly develop cutting-edge military equipment with Ukrainian industry through a groundbreaking new technology sharing agreement. This tech sharing agreement is called Programme Lyra.
On the first anniversary of the 100 Year Partnership (16 Jan 2026) it was announced that a new business centre will open in Kyiv this year to ensure Britain’s cutting-edge defence industry and innovators can step up their work to equip Ukraine’s Armed Forces. This facility will deliver jobs at home and bring Ukrainian and UK defence industries closer than ever while embedding the lessons from the battlefield.
The Secretary of State for Defence is committed to supporting UK companies in supplying innovation-based technologies to Ukraine, boosting high-skilled British-based jobs and meeting Ukraine's urgent needs in its fight against Russia's illegal invasion.
In cooperation with trade association ADS, the UK has delivered seven successful Trade Missions to Ukraine, bringing together UK and Ukrainian industry to discuss opportunities for long-term cooperation and investment, and to promote greater collaboration with defence industrial companies inside Ukraine.
Last year we announced that the UK will manufacture and jointly develop cutting-edge military equipment with Ukrainian industry through a groundbreaking new technology sharing agreement. This tech sharing agreement is called Programme Lyra.
On the first anniversary of the 100 Year Partnership (16 Jan 2026) it was announced that a new business centre will open in Kyiv this year to ensure Britain's cutting-edge defence industry and innovators can step up their work to equip Ukraine's Armed Forces. This facility will deliver good jobs at home and bring Ukrainian and UK defence industries closer than ever while embedding the lessons from the battlefield.
As set out in the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, we are increasing national warfighting readiness to deter threats to UK and our interests. This includes transforming the Armed Forces to ensure they are more lethal, reversing the 14 years of hollowing out and underfunding this government found when it came into office.
The Strategic Defence Review 2025 set out Defence’s role in seeding innovation and growth to keep the Integrated Force at the forefront of warfare. To deliver this, we established the UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) with a £400M ring-fenced annual budget to fund and scale UK-based companies.
UKDI provides a bespoke, strategic service, and capital for high-growth potential UK and allied SMEs, helping them attract private co-investment into defence innovation. As of October 2025, £9 million in Innovation Loan funding has helped 11 successful SMEs raise an additional £29 million in private finance, and 42% of the 72 businesses supported to date have secured £85.4 million in follow-on investment.
To support European and international investor engagement, the Ministry of Defence partners with the National Strategic Security Investment Fund and the NATO Innovation Fund to leverage opportunities for the UK and provide targeted engagement for defence and security SMEs.
We continue to break down barriers and open new avenues for innovation and technology funding through the Defence Finance and Investment Strategy which will be published this spring.
The Ministry of Defence is dedicated to ensuring that defence is an engine for growth across the UK. The Security and Defence Partnership agreed with the European Union in May last year demonstrates this Government’s commitment to enhancing European security, fostering economic growth, and reinforcing NATO.
We will continue to collaborate with the EU and its Member States on defence and security, entering agreements only when they align with the national interest and deliver value for money to taxpayers.
This partnership, alongside closer cooperation with EU defence initiatives, will strengthen NATO, enhance European security, ensuring the continent is as safe as it needs to be.
As with all Armed Forces equipment capable of delivering lethal effect, the use of Phalanx is governed by strict Rules of Engagement. Internal directives relating to the use of weapons systems are operationally sensitive and are not disclosed.
As with all Armed Forces equipment capable of delivering lethal effect, the use of Phalanx is governed by strict Rules of Engagement. Internal directives relating to the use of weapons systems are operationally sensitive and are not disclosed.
As the Defence Secretary has outlined to the hon. Gentleman a number of times, we will publish it as soon as we can, but our aim is to ensure decisions in the Defence Investment Plan (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.
The DIP will end the hollowing out and underfunding of our Armed Forces that we inherited.
Integrated Air and Missile Defence investments will be prioritised appropriately against the threat as part of the future Integrated Force. Work to deliver the Strategic Defence Review recommendations, including on Integrated Air and Missile Defence, will be prioritised appropriately against the assessed threat picture as part of the future Integrated Force and will be set out in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan.
HMS BANGOR is not in refit; the ship is undergoing structural repairs following the ship's recovery from deployed operations. These are currently scheduled to have been completed by the end of April 2026.
Project Talon seeks a maritime Counter-UAS capability able to detect, track, identify and defeat airborne threats. Further information can be found at this link - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/notice/716f2056-c004-45bd-83f0-503ea349b8aa?origin=SearchResults&p=1
Over the past five years, the British Army, Royal Marine Commandos, and Royal Air Force have participated in 12 large-scale brigade-level live exercises, alongside multiple multinational training operations.
The Defence Industrial Strategy sets out the commitment to make the UK a defence industrial leader by 2035, ensuring the UK becomes Europe’s leading defence exporter and the most attractive country in the world to grow a defence business. By reducing regulatory barriers, supporting our small and medium sized enterprises together with the work of our Defence Supply Chain Capability Programme, we are fostering closer collaboration between the Ministry of Defence and industry, helping shape the market, and embedding resilience by design into our supply chains.
The Secretary of State for Defence continues to work closely with the Government of Ukraine and NATO partners on the sharing of knowledge and insights about drone and missile threats whose technologists and armed forces are constantly evolving capabilities to address a variety of threats from Russia.