Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK and European allies to develop low-cost air defence weapons to protect NATO skies, published on 20 February 2026, when will the testing phase of the Low-Cost Effectors & Autonomous Platforms initiative begin.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
UK trials for the low-cost air defence effector under the LEAP initiative are currently planned for Autumn 2026; however, this is dependent on engagement with industry and the maturity of the solutions offered. This will be followed by multilateral trials with our European partners in 2027.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether copies of the proposed Defence Investment Plan Bill will be available on the day it is presented to Parliament.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Major Government documents are usually published when they are presented to Parliament or shortly thereafter, with materials typically made available online and placed in the House of Commons Library unless sensitivity prevents this. Copies will be laid in parliament as appropriate.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much has been spent on delivering the Global Combat Air Programme as of 25 February 2026.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Since its inception, the UK has invested over £2 billion already in Future Combat Air System/Global Combat Air Programme (FCAS/GCAP). This includes the associated Team Tempest research and development programme.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many live firing exercises have taken place at the British Army Training Unit Kenya in each of the last 10 financial years.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The number of live firing exercises, by financial year (FY), are below:
FY 2015/16 | FY 2016/17 | FY 2017/18 | FY 2018/19 | FY 2019/20 | FY 2020/21 | FY 2021/22 | FY 2022/23 | FY 2023/24 | FY 2024/25 |
1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Hypersonic missiles development accelerated by new contract, published on 13 February 2026, what the estimated cost is of delivering the hypersonic missile programme.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Through innovative procurement practices and rapid commercial mechanisms that harness the breadth of the UK's industrial and academic supply chain, the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) Hypersonics programme intends to deliver a weapon demonstrator by 2030. With a mandate to "do differently", the programme deviates from traditional (CADMID) procurement sequencing and adopts early technology maturation, prototyping and system testing, This agile, spiral development approach aligned with Defence Industrial Strategy maintains MOD's existing gated approvals process. The programme is at the early Strategic Outline Case; the overall costs for the capability will mature, as will the in-service delivery date.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Hypersonic missiles development accelerated by new contract, published on 13 February 2026, whether he plans to procure a hypersonic missile in this Parliament.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Through innovative procurement practices and rapid commercial mechanisms that harness the breadth of the UK's industrial and academic supply chain, the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) Hypersonics programme intends to deliver a weapon demonstrator by 2030. With a mandate to "do differently", the programme deviates from traditional (CADMID) procurement sequencing and adopts early technology maturation, prototyping and system testing, This agile, spiral development approach aligned with Defence Industrial Strategy maintains MOD's existing gated approvals process. The programme is at the early Strategic Outline Case; the overall costs for the capability will mature, as will the in-service delivery date.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide information on the (a) number and (b) type of cold weather clothing in use with the Royal Air Force in the (i) current financial year and (ii) in each of the last 10 financial years.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
All personnel are provided with appropriate clothing and personal equipment during pre-deployment preparation.
However, information regarding the amount and type of cold weather clothing is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many generators are in use with the Royal Air Force in (a) 2025-2026 financial year and (b) in each of the last 10 financial years.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Hypersonic missiles development accelerated by new contract, published on 13 February 2026, whether he has a target date for the hypersonic missile being in service.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Through innovative procurement practices and rapid commercial mechanisms that harness the breadth of the UK's industrial and academic supply chain, the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) Hypersonics programme intends to deliver a weapon demonstrator by 2030. With a mandate to "do differently", the programme deviates from traditional (CADMID) procurement sequencing and adopts early technology maturation, prototyping and system testing, This agile, spiral development approach aligned with Defence Industrial Strategy maintains MOD's existing gated approvals process. The programme is at the early Strategic Outline Case; the overall costs for the capability will mature, as will the in-service delivery date.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department expects to spend on the (a) Future Combat Air System and (b) Global Combat Air Programme in the current financial year.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The current Financial Year (FY) is ongoing therefore, figures will be finalised within the Departmental Accounts once FY2025-26 has concluded.