Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to increase the number of Sky Sabre air defence missile systems in service.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
A doubling of the number of deployable Sky Sabre systems operated by the Armed Forces is already on contract and due to deliver by 2027.
Sky Sabre represents a step change in the UK’s ground-based air defence capability. As the Army’s most advanced air defence system, it provides a powerful shield against modern airborne threats, from fast jets to precision-guided weapons and drones.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has identified which categories of critical national infrastructure should be prioritised for protection under the UK’s integrated air and missile defence planning.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
Defence is working with the Cabinet Office to prioritise and protect Critical National Infrastructure (CNI). Defence is capturing data on a CNI knowledge base, which helps government understand the priorities and vulnerabilities between the 13 CNI sectors. This tool is contributing to Defence work to refresh our homeland defence plan as a priority for 2026.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the level of threat posed by long-range drones to UK military bases and critical national infrastructure.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Strategic Defence Review considered all aspects of Defence, including the capabilities required by the UK to meet the challenges, threats, and opportunities of the twenty-first century. The Strategic Defence Review also highlighted the importance of autonomous systems both within the UK’s Integrated Force and the threats they pose, building upon ongoing threat assessments and learning lessons from our partners and allies. Decisions on our equipment requirements, including artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, will be set out in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress has been made on allocating the funding announced for air and missile defence; and what capabilities that funding is expected to deliver.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Strategic Defence Review announced up to £1 billion for UK air and missile defence. Work to deliver the Strategic Defence Reviews recommendations, including on the allocation for Integrated Air and Missile Defence, will be set out in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan.