Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has he made of the potential impact of all central commands being led by the United States on NATO operations.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
While the US will now command all of the Theatre Component Commands (TCC), the UK and other European allies will hold the respective Deputy Commander positions on rotation. This will give the UK insight and influence at these central commands.
By focusing on the Component Commands, the US have ceded 4* command of the Joint Force Commands (JFC), which control operations in their respective areas of operations. This will allow greater 4* representation for the largest Allies and enables burden shifting to European nations, with the UK taking command of JFC Norfolk.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the role of UK-based (a) manufacturing, (b) testing and (c) assurance activities under Project GRAYBURN.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As advised in my response to Question 106283, the project is within its concept stage, and we cannot yet assess the adequacy of the UK supply chain regarding this project. However, we have set clear expectations that Project Grayburn will be manufactured in the UK to enhance sovereign industry, generate employment and provide opportunity for export.
There is currently no specific definition for the future export potential of Project Grayburn, but it is desirable for the project to create future export opportunities. As part of the current phase, analysis of potential addressable export opportunities will be conducted.
With regards to the decision framework being used to assess potential future calibre changes, the project will employ the established scrutiny and approvals tools for decision making, including the Combined Operation Effectiveness and Investment Appraisal.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what definition his Department uses of export potential in the context of Project GRAYBURN.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As advised in my response to Question 106283, the project is within its concept stage, and we cannot yet assess the adequacy of the UK supply chain regarding this project. However, we have set clear expectations that Project Grayburn will be manufactured in the UK to enhance sovereign industry, generate employment and provide opportunity for export.
There is currently no specific definition for the future export potential of Project Grayburn, but it is desirable for the project to create future export opportunities. As part of the current phase, analysis of potential addressable export opportunities will be conducted.
With regards to the decision framework being used to assess potential future calibre changes, the project will employ the established scrutiny and approvals tools for decision making, including the Combined Operation Effectiveness and Investment Appraisal.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what decision framework is being used to assess potential future calibre changes within Project Grayburn.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As advised in my response to Question 106283, the project is within its concept stage, and we cannot yet assess the adequacy of the UK supply chain regarding this project. However, we have set clear expectations that Project Grayburn will be manufactured in the UK to enhance sovereign industry, generate employment and provide opportunity for export.
There is currently no specific definition for the future export potential of Project Grayburn, but it is desirable for the project to create future export opportunities. As part of the current phase, analysis of potential addressable export opportunities will be conducted.
With regards to the decision framework being used to assess potential future calibre changes, the project will employ the established scrutiny and approvals tools for decision making, including the Combined Operation Effectiveness and Investment Appraisal.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the ability of Defence Equipment and Support to incorporate a (a) UK manufacturing and (b) Land Industrial Strategy components into all procurement programmes.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Defence Equipment & Support works within operative procurement rules and frameworks, such as the Procurement Act 2023 and the Land Industrial Strategy, which encourage compliant bids from UK suppliers in the delivery of Defence equipment programmes, including body armour.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the ability of Defence Equipment and Support to incorporate a UK sovereign component into all upcoming body armour procurement programmes.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Defence Equipment & Support works within operative procurement rules and frameworks, such as the Procurement Act 2023 and the Land Industrial Strategy, which encourage compliant bids from UK suppliers in the delivery of Defence equipment programmes, including body armour.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Maritime Fighting Web is part of the Digital Targeting Web.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave to Question 112332 on 18 February 2026.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of procuring the Leonardo Proteus helicopter.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the response to Question 101435 provided on 8 January 2026.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, by what date SONUS acoustic weapon detection will be issued to 5th Regiment Royal Artillery.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The SONUS system is an Acoustic Weapon Locating capability and part of a wider programme which is delivering the next generation of Weapon Locating Systems.
The first SONUS equipment delivery date has been accelerated and is now currently scheduled for early 2026, five years earlier than planned. This equipment will be issued to 5th Regiment Royal Artillery for use in training and User Acceptance Trials. Full Deployable Capability is forecast for early 2027.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on delivering Support Weapons Enhanced Sighting Systems.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Over the past three years, the Support Weapons Enhanced Sighting Systems project has delivered a range of enhanced capabilities to the UK's Armed Forces which are now in service on systems including Heavy Machine Gun, Grenade Machine Gun, and General-Purpose Machine Gun. Further work is ongoing through a Surveillance and Target Acquisition framework to enable the wider rollout of capabilities across Front Line Command support weapon systems.