Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made in the establishment of a Multilateral Defence Mechanism between UK, Finland, and the Netherlands.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
On 6 July 2026, the UK, the Netherlands, Finland, and Poland reiterated our shared commitment to strengthening defence financing through the establishment of a Multilateral Defence Mechanism (MDM). As part of this commitment, the Defence Investment Plan includes £400 million towards the UK's contribution to the MDM.
This independent international financial institution will address our collective challenges in defence procurement by aggregating demand through procurement to achieve better value for money. It will lend to members for joint procurement, stockpiling on members' behalf, and supply chain finance to improve capability, interoperability, and value for money.
We continue to work with close allies to move quickly to formal Treaty negotiations, respecting individual members' ratification processes, while maintaining the shared ambition of setting up the MDM by 2027.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 26 of his Department's Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, what pioneering UK industrial research and development is being built on as part of the £150m to commence rapid production of Uncrewed Ground Vehicles.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) outlined £150 million to commence a programme to rapidly develop and produce uncrewed vehicles for the Army, through UK industry.
This programme will build upon a substantial body of UK-funded research, development and experimentation undertaken by the Ministry of Defence, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, industry and academia over a number of years. This body of research has included operational analysis and experimentation of the employment of uncrewed ground vehicles and the development of autonomous solutions.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether DragonFire will be fitted on Royal Navy Type 45 Destroyers (a) from and (b) by 2027.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As announced in the Defence Investment Plan, the MOD will invest £490 million in Directed Energy Weapons, including DragonFire. With the transition to a Hybrid Navy and modernisation of our Armed Forces we are exploring how DragonFire could be utilised in a range of operational environments, taking lessons from the recent conflict in the Middle East.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what percent of the total defence budget is spent on uncrewed systems.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As part of the largest ever drone investment in Defence, we are spending over £5 billion on autonomous systems by 2030. Based on current plans, this equates to approximately 1.7% of the expenditure set out in the Plan's four-year funding period. I would expect this to increase further as the technologies, tactics and platforms mature.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 43 of his Department's Defence Investment Plan, published 30 June 2026, what are the expected greater distances capability across the battlespace provided as part of Project ASGARD.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
In the context of Project ASGARD in the Department's Defence Investment Plan, the phrase “greater distances across the battlespace” is not referring to a single metric, such as a specific range or timescale. It describes the combined operational effect achieved through the Digital Targeting Web: integrating sensors, data, AI, intelligence and fires to improve the Army’s ability to find and strike targets across a wider and more complex battlespace.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how will the policies of the Defence Strategic Approach to AI ensure that algorithms are both ethical and transparent.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Defence Strategic Approach to AI will establish Defence's overarching position on AI adoption. It will reaffirm our commitment to complying with our legal obligations and developing and adopting AI safely and responsibly. The department plans to build and expand on our existing Responsible AI policy framework reflected in the Dependable AI JSP 936 which mandates that all AI use cases address specific AI safety, ethical and legal considerations, in line with our five AI ethical principles.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 42 of his Department's Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, how many Mk6A Chinooks will be retired and how many newer Chinooks will be purchased.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Defence Investment Plan provides for the recapitalisation of the Chinook fleet through the Chinook Capability Sustainment Programme.
Fourteen Chinook Mk6A aircraft are planned to retire, previously agreed in Nov 24. In addition, the Defence Investment Plan confirms the remaining 15 Chinook Mk6A aircraft will be retired from 2026 onwards. Subsequent recapitalisation will be via Chinook Capability Sustainment Programme Tranche 2 from the early 2030s. Fourteen H‑47(Extended Range) aircraft are already being procured under the previously approved Chinook Capability Sustainment Programme Tranche 1.
Final decisions on the quantity of aircraft to be procured through Tranche 2, based on technological advances, threats and requirements, have not yet been taken and remain subject to the programme's approvals process.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the breakdown of skills base of the 4,500 people working on FCAS and GCAP.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme, with the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) at its heart, is driving investment in a broad range of highly sought-after engineering and manufacturing skills, to keep the UK at the forefront of aerospace innovation. Digital first and data-driven, this includes skills such as model-based systems engineering, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and digital engineering.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any other nations are expected to join the Global Combat Air Programme.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) has been designed with Allies and partners at its heart and interoperability at the centre of its development.
We and our GCAP partners Italy and Japan agree that the programme is in principle open to additional partners to secure burden-sharing, industrial benefits and growth opportunities, as long as programme delivery is assured. Decisions on any additional partners will be made jointly with Italy and Japan.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the estimated timeline for all the F-35As to enter service.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave him on 13 July 2026 to Question 16066.
The exact delivery profile and date of F-35 aircraft is subject to negotiation between the UK and multinational Joint Program Office, but the UK anticipates taking delivery of the next batch of F-35 aircraft from the early 2030s.