Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to expand the Short-Range and Medium-Range Air Defence launcher fleet beyond the eight Sky Sabre units set out in the Strategic Defence Review.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The British Army’s Land Ground Based Air Defence programme intends to increase the mass of the current Medium Range Air Defence fleet.
The programme strives to modernise Defence’s ground-based air defence capabilities in the face of rapidly developing threats and is a high priority for the Army.
It was only a short time ago that I was in Bolton to order more Sky Sabre Systems.
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the UK’s ability to sustain production of major defence equipment during a high-intensity conflict without reliance on overseas supply chains.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) set out how we must move to warfighting readiness, that includes increasing industrial production and capacity and adding resilience. We are delivering on the SDR vision and the Defence Investment Strategy (DIS) sets out steps forward in this respect.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) is strengthening its supply chains to ensure procurement is more resilient, innovative, and agile. Under the Strategic Defence Review and Defence Industrial Strategy, we are developing a collaborative wargaming capability focused on supply chain resilience. This includes surge capacity planning, investment in UK industrial capability, and circular economy initiatives to secure critical raw materials and enable rapid production scaling during times of conflict.
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the replacement for Hawk fast jet trainer aircraft will be manufactured in the UK.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Strategic Defence Review stated the intent to seek cost effective replacements for the Hawk aircraft. Decisions regarding the production, sustainment, and replacement of these aircraft will be made following the completion of the Defence Investment Plan.
The Hon. Gentleman will be aware of this Government’s strong support for making more defence equipment in the UK.
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the UK’s ability to improve Challenger 3 production rates.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence is working closely with the supply chain to ensure the timely development of Challenger 3. Focus remains on securing the necessary materials, identifying opportunities and mitigating risk to deliver tanks to users as soon as practicable.
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the current lead times are for procuring new tanks, artillery systems and missile platform and how do those times compare to other NATO countries; and what steps he is taking to reduce those timelines.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Defence Industrial Strategy set out an average of six years to contract for major defence platforms. Whilst differing procurement systems make direct comparisons with other countries challenging, our new segmented approach to procurement, supported by accelerated commercial pathways, is designed to enable programmes to get to contract faster. We are making progress towards the target date of 1 April 2026 for establishment of the segmented approach in line with the Strategic Defence Review.
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on reducing procurement timelines for major military platforms from six years to two.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Defence Industrial Strategy set out an average of six years to contract for major defence platforms. Whilst differing procurement systems make direct comparisons with other countries challenging, our new segmented approach to procurement, supported by accelerated commercial pathways, is designed to enable programmes to get to contract faster. We are making progress towards the target date of 1 April 2026 for establishment of the segmented approach in line with the Strategic Defence Review.
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether additional 155mm artillery shell production orders will be placed with BAE Systems’ Washington plant.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
We can confirm that additional 155mm artillery shell production orders will be placed with BAE Systems’ Washington plant.
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the status is of the Remote Controlled Howitzer (RCH) 155 gun system programme.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 12 November to Question 88294, which remains extant:
The project aims to achieve Minimum Deployable Capability (MDC) within this decade and will deliver the Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155mm (RCH 155) Calibre Wheeled Artillery System. The project remains in its assessment phase and therefore it remains too early to provide an exact in-service date
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made on adapting Type 45 destroyers to carry Sea Ceptor missiles.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Sea Ceptor is already in service on all Type 23 frigates and work is underway to introduce it onto the Type 45 destroyers, as well as the new Type 26 and Type 31 frigates. This expansion of Sea Ceptor will further strengthen local air defence capabilities in the surface fleet.
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has been made of whether current and planned orders for Starstreak and Lightweight Modular Missiles are sufficient to replenish stockpiles provided to Ukraine.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
We are committed to investing more in munitions as set out in the Strategic Defence Review and details of what we will be investing in will be in the Defence Investment Plan.