Asked by: Danny Kruger (Conservative - East Wiltshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to the Defence spending uplift on the Challenger 3 programme.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Funding for specific programmes is considered as part of the Department's annual budget setting process. The Strategic Defence Review will report in the first half of next year and will set out recommendations on capabilities.
Asked by: Danny Kruger (Conservative - East Wiltshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to the defence spending uplift on the Hydra 400 jet-propelled drone development programme.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
There is not, and has never been, a dedicated Hydra 400 programme in the Army. The capability was assessed in early 2024, and the Army has no current plans to pursue it further.
Work continues to develop the Army's strike capabilities. As part of this ongoing work, the Army will refine the concept for a layered approach to deliver strike capabilities at the Battlegroup, Brigade and Divisional levels.
Asked by: Danny Kruger (Conservative - East Wiltshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Strategic Defence Review on the Hydra 400 jet-propelled drone development programme.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
There is not, and has never been, a dedicated Hydra 400 programme in the Army. The capability was assessed in early 2024, and the Army has no current plans to pursue it further.
Work continues to develop the Army's strike capabilities. As part of this ongoing work, the Army will refine the concept for a layered approach to deliver strike capabilities at the Battlegroup, Brigade and Divisional levels.
Asked by: Danny Kruger (Conservative - East Wiltshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects that the initial operating capacity of Ajax armoured fighting vehicles will be delivered.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Armoured Fighting Vehicle AJAX Programme trials continue to progress and remain ongoing. Reliability Growth Trials (RGT) are ongoing and on schedule to complete by December 2026.
Regarding the Armoured Vehicle Programme (AJAX) Initial Operating Capability, I refer the hon. Member to the answer that the Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry gave to Question 438 dated 22 July 2024, which remains extant.
Asked by: Danny Kruger (Conservative - East Wiltshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Strategic Defence Review on the Challenger 3 programme.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Challenger 3 programme is an important programme and is on schedule to achieve Initial Operating Capability in 2027 and Full Operating Capability in 2030.
The Strategic Defence Review will guide future capability development priorities, to ensure the United Kingdom is both secure at home and strong abroad - now and for the years to come.
The Reviewers will report regularly on progress to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for Defence and will make their final report to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and the Defence Secretary - with recommendations - in the first half of 2025.
Asked by: Danny Kruger (Conservative - East Wiltshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the Army Board on the future of the Hydra 400 jet-propelled drone development programme.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
There is not, and has never been, a dedicated Hydra 400 programme in the Army. The capability was assessed in early 2024, and the Army has no current plans to pursue it further.
Work continues to develop the Army's strike capabilities. As part of this ongoing work, the Army will refine the concept for a layered approach to deliver strike capabilities at the Battlegroup, Brigade and Divisional levels.
Asked by: Danny Kruger (Conservative - East Wiltshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the Army Board on the future of the Challenger 3 programme.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
During his visit to Army HQ on 19 September, the Secretary of State for Defence met members of the Army Board and discussed a range of issues including the Army's Equipment Plan supporting the Army's modernisation.
The Challenger 3 programme remains an important programme and remains on schedule to achieve Initial Operating Capability in 2027 and Full Operating Capability in 2030.
Asked by: Danny Kruger (Conservative - East Wiltshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress his Department has made on the procurement of swarming drones for No. 216 Squadron of the Royal Air Force.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
216 Squadron was initially formed as a swarming drone trials squadron; however, the role of drone testing and evaluation will now be conducted by 744 Naval Air Squadron as the Joint Uncrewed Air System Test and Evaluation Squadron.
216 Squadron is intended to become the operational delivery squadron for an Autonomous Collaborative Platforms capability in 2025.
Asked by: Danny Kruger (Conservative - East Wiltshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made on the Ajax armoured fighting vehicle programme trials.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Armoured Fighting Vehicle AJAX Programme trials continue to progress and remain ongoing. Reliability Growth Trials (RGT) are ongoing and on schedule to complete by December 2026.
Regarding the Armoured Vehicle Programme (AJAX) Initial Operating Capability, I refer the hon. Member to the answer that the Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry gave to Question 438 dated 22 July 2024, which remains extant.
Asked by: Danny Kruger (Conservative - East Wiltshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the purpose of No. 216 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is to (a) test and (b) operate swarming drones.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
216 Squadron was initially formed as a swarming drone trials squadron; however, the role of drone testing and evaluation will now be conducted by 744 Naval Air Squadron as the Joint Uncrewed Air System Test and Evaluation Squadron.
216 Squadron is intended to become the operational delivery squadron for an Autonomous Collaborative Platforms capability in 2025.