Tobias Ellwood

The UK is playing a major role in the global response as we galvanise support for our Four-Point Plan: 1) co-ordinating the global health response; 2) accelerating the search for a vaccine, treatments and testing; 3) securing a sound economic response; and 4) bringing our people home.

The Foreign Secretary and Ministerial team are carrying out extensive bilateral and multilateral engagement, including with G7/G20 counterparts, and working with international companies to tackle the crisis.

We are also working closely with UN Security Council members and the UN Secretary-General to address pandemic and secondary impacts, including instability.

Through our international engagement, we have repeatedly made clear that measures taken by States to tackle CV19 must be necessary, proportionate, time-bound, transparent and regularly reviewed.

The British Army holds and maintains an appropriate amount of all vehicles to meet operational requirements. For Operational Security reasons, I cannot comment on how many Apache or Chinook platforms are currently deployable.

I am withholding this information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

Details of the number of vehicles in the UK Armed Forces are published on an annual basis on the government's website. The most recent publication can be found here: UK_Armed_Forces_Equipment_and_Formations_2021_tables.xlsx (live.com)

A breakdown of Army units by corps, is provided in the attached table. The units are listed in corps order of precedence and the table includes both reserve and regular units, including training regiments.

Under Future Soldier Plans, the Army is currently reshaping its structures. This means that some details will change as Future Soldier continues to be developed and implemented.

The information requested can be found in the following table.

Army Regular Outflow by Financial Year 2016-17 – 2021-22

*These figures are for all personnel who have outflowed having completed Phase 1 training and include personnel outflowing from Trade Trained Strength and personnel outflowing from Phase 2 training.

Notes/caveats:

1. The figures are for Regular Army only and therefore exclude Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve Service, Mobilised Reserves, Army Reserve and all other Reserves, but includes those personnel that have transferred from GURTAM to UKTAP.
2. Figures show outflow from the Regular Army, both trained and untrained, including personnel leaving the Services, deaths and recalled reservists on release. They do not include promotion from Ranks to Officers or personnel who leave the Army to join the Royal Navy, Royal Marines or Royal Air Force.

Since the signing of the Letter of Intent October 2020, the UK has guided the NATO Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) project through the Pre-Concept stage. Since the signing of the NGRC Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 16 June 2022, the project now moves into the Concept Phase over the next three years.

We expect the NATO NGRC project to ultimately develop a Transformational Next Generation Rotorcraft that will remain relevant against future threats and will be a suitable candidate to replace the current fleet of Medium Helicopters in service with the UK and NATO Allies.

The UK is fully engaged with the NATO NGRC project in order to develop options for potential replacements across the three services.

Since the signing of the Letter of Intent October 2020, the UK has guided the NATO Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) project through the Pre-Concept stage. Since the signing of the NGRC Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 16 June 2022, the project now moves into the Concept Phase over the next three years.

We expect the NATO NGRC project to ultimately develop a Transformational Next Generation Rotorcraft that will remain relevant against future threats and will be a suitable candidate to replace the current fleet of Medium Helicopters in service with the UK and NATO Allies.

The UK is fully engaged with the NATO NGRC project in order to develop options for potential replacements across the three services.

Since the signing of the Letter of Intent October 2020, the UK has guided the NATO Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) project through the Pre-Concept stage. Since the signing of the NGRC Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 16 June 2022, the project now moves into the Concept Phase over the next three years.

We expect the NATO NGRC project to ultimately develop a Transformational Next Generation Rotorcraft that will remain relevant against future threats and will be a suitable candidate to replace the current fleet of Medium Helicopters in service with the UK and NATO Allies.

The UK is fully engaged with the NATO NGRC project in order to develop options for potential replacements across the three services.

I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 2 March 2022 to Question 129752 to the right hon. Member for North Durham (Mr Jones).

The UK is the Framework Nation for NATO's enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) in Estonia, currently providing a permanent Headquarters and two Battle Groups to Estonia. UK Personnel are also deployed in the US led eFP in Poland. NATO leaders have agreed to strengthen the Alliance's deterrence and defence posture, and the forthcoming NATO summit will bolster the Eastern flank and ensure every inch of allied territory is defended. Permanent personnel contributions to NATO countries will be considered by Allies as NATO's Deterrence and Defence of the Euro-Atlantic Area (DDA) is developed, and any contributions will be aligned with SACEUR's regional plans. The UK will continue to work and exercise extensively with Eastern European Allies and partners going forward, both through NATO and the Joint Expeditionary Force.

The Ministry of Defence is progressing Challenger 3. We have no current intention of procuring Panther KF51 when it is ready for production (which is not the case at present).

The information requested is provided in the following table.

The information requested is provided in the following table:

1. Figures show outflow from UK Regular Forces, both trained and untrained, including personnel leaving the Services, deaths and recalled reservists on release. They do not include promotion from Ranks to Officers or flows between Services.

The requested information cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Any reservist, be they a volunteer or an ex-Regular who is liable to be recalled for permanent service, must respond to a call-out notice. As of 1 January 2022, there were 31,920 trained volunteer reservists and 35,188 ex-Regular reservists with a recall liability. In addition, there were also 2,033 sponsored reserves.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17 June 2022 to Question 14580 to the hon. Member for Barnsley East (Stephanie Peacock).

Through Future Soldier, the Army will have a whole force of over 100,000 comprising of 73,000 Regular Service Personnel and 30,100 Army Reserves. This will deliver a modern force that is more integrated, agile, and lethal, fit for the threats of the future not the battles of the past.

The Army will be balanced to deliver right across the Defence spectrum: Protect the Homeland; Engage with allies and partners overseas; Constrain the aggressive activities of our adversaries; and Fight wars if required.

Order of Battle is not a term commonly applied by the Royal Air Force (RAF). The information that is presented in the UK Armed Forces Equipment and Formations data, published at the following link https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-armed-forces-equipment-and-formations-2021, provides the size and shape of the RAF in tables 7, 8 and 9 for 2021.

Defence support under the Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) system is carefully calibrated to ensure there is no impact on the ability of the Armed Forces to defend the UK. Defence of the UK is of course our highest priority. The nature, scale and volume of requests under MACA means that the majority are met by assigning latent capacity that can be reprioritised in the short term, and do not therefore impact upon core Defence tasks. MACA tasks may occasionally have a modest impact on training schedules, though in some cases the task itself provides training opportunities (particularly in highly specialist areas such as explosive ordnance disposal, medical evacuation, diving, cyber or intelligence).

Where there is a risk of impact upon core Defence tasks, Ministers are made aware of the risks and costs of diverting resources to support a MACA task in order that they can judge the balance of priorities. This was the approach taken with COVID-19. In the early stages of the pandemic, a number of lower priority Defence tasks were paused or halted to allow the establishment of the COVID Support Force. It should be noted that even at the height of military support to the COVID-19 response, critical Defence tasks and operations were maintained.

Defence continually manages and reviews its stocks of weapons and munitions. These considerations have also informed the numbers of munitions granted in kind to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. There are regular strategic supplier conversations throughout Defence and the department is fully engaged with industry, allies and partners to ensure that all equipment and munitions granted in kind are replaced as expeditiously as possible.

The Army is continually assessing the potential impacts of technology on the character of land conflict. The emergence of uncrewed air systems technology on the battlefield is of great interest to the Army both as a threat and opportunity. The Army has conducted numerous experiments into how to harness this technology to its advantage. Similarly, the Army has drawn lessons from the use of uncrewed air systems in Ukraine, Nagorno-Karabakh, Iraq, Syria, and Libya and is considering how to apply them effectively in doctrine.

Twelve Type 23 frigates remain in service with the Royal Navy.

As of 1 April 2022, HMS ARGYLL, IRON DUKE, SUTHERLAND and ST ALBANS are in long term refit, the remaining eight are available for operations. MONMOUTH has been decommissioned and is awaiting disposal.

On current plans, HMS MONTROSE's out of service date is 2023.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 25 May 2022 to Question 3460 to the hon. Member for North Wiltshire (James Gray).

The Ministry of Defence works very closely with reservist employers to maximise the support we provide to our reservists in all three Services. As part of this, we encourage employers to provide a minimum of 10 days additional paid leave to allow reservists to complete their training throughout the year.

At the present time, we judge 10 days additional leave to be the right balance between employment and reserve service, allowing employees to fulfil their commitments both to their employer and to the nation.

At the end of May 2022, a total of 8,691 employers and organisations had signed the Armed Forces Covenant (AFC). AFC signings have shown sustained and consistent growth in the past few years. Each of these organisations has a relationship with Defence managed by the Defence Relationship Management team, either nationally via one of a number of National Account Managers, or regionally via a Regional Employer Engagement Director (REED).

Once organisations have signed the AFC, we encourage them to join the Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS). Currently we have 493 Gold ERS winners, 1,265 Silver, and 4,573 Bronze. Silver ERS winners are required to provide at least five days additional paid leave for reservist training. Gold winners are required to provide 10 days additional paid leave for training. We therefore have a growing cohort of employers seeking a formal relationship with Defence, each of which is encouraged to provide additional paid leave for training.

The Army has recently conducted a wholesale review of its doctrine that has brought the balance of its focus towards peer on peer conflict.

The ability to conduct high-end warfighting remains at the core of the British Army, including remaining a leading contributor to the NATO alliance and the ability to field a warfighting Division.

In accordance with Defence's corporate governance structures and processes, the Army reports quarterly on its Performance against the goals and objectives set by the Defence Strategy and Defence Plan. The Army is always ready to fulfil the task of protecting the nation and holds various people, units and equipment at various levels of readiness.

The British Army holds and maintains an appropriate amount of all vehicles to meet operational requirements. I am withholding further information on the number of in service vehicles as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

Details of the number of vehicles in the UK Armed Forces are published on an annual basis on the Government’s website. The most recent publication can be found here: UK_Armed_Forces_Equipment_and_Formations_2021_tables.xlsx (live.com)

The British Army holds and maintains an appropriate amount of all vehicles to meet operational requirements. I am withholding further information on the number of in service vehicles as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

Details of the number of vehicles in the UK Armed Forces are published on an annual basis on the Government’s website. The most recent publication can be found here: UK_Armed_Forces_Equipment_and_Formations_2021_tables.xlsx (live.com)

The British Army holds and maintains an appropriate amount of all vehicles to meet operational requirements. I am withholding further information on the number of in service vehicles as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

Details of the number of vehicles in the UK Armed Forces are published on an annual basis on the Government’s website. The most recent publication can be found here: UK_Armed_Forces_Equipment_and_Formations_2021_tables.xlsx (live.com)

The British Army holds and maintains an appropriate amount of all vehicles to meet operational requirements. I am withholding further information on the number of in service vehicles as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

Details of the number of vehicles in the UK Armed Forces are published on an annual basis on the Government’s website. The most recent publication can be found here: UK_Armed_Forces_Equipment_and_Formations_2021_tables.xlsx (live.com)

The British Army holds and maintains an appropriate amount of all vehicles to meet operational requirements. I am withholding further information on the number of in service vehicles as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

Details of the number of vehicles in the UK Armed Forces are published on an annual basis on the Government’s website. The most recent publication can be found here: UK_Armed_Forces_Equipment_and_Formations_2021_tables.xlsx (live.com)

The British Army holds and maintains an appropriate amount of all vehicles to meet operational requirements. I am withholding further information on the number of in service vehicles as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

Details of the number of vehicles in the UK Armed Forces are published on an annual basis on the Government’s website. The most recent publication can be found here: UK_Armed_Forces_Equipment_and_Formations_2021_tables.xlsx (live.com)

The British Army holds and maintains an appropriate amount of all vehicles to meet operational requirements. I am withholding further information on the number of in service vehicles as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

Details of the number of vehicles in the UK Armed Forces are published on an annual basis on the Government’s website. The most recent publication can be found here: UK_Armed_Forces_Equipment_and_Formations_2021_tables.xlsx (live.com)

The British Army holds and maintains an appropriate amount of all vehicles to meet operational requirements. I am withholding further information on the number of in service vehicles as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

Details of the number of vehicles in the UK Armed Forces are published on an annual basis on the Government’s website. The most recent publication can be found here: UK_Armed_Forces_Equipment_and_Formations_2021_tables.xlsx (live.com)

Statistics for the number of Regular and Reserve personnel in the Armed Forces are published on a quarterly basis in the Quarterly Service Statistics Publication. The next quarterly edition, scheduled for publication on 23 June 2022, will provide the data from 1 January 2022 up to 1 April 2022. Data thereafter up to 1 July 2022 will be published in due course in the summer release of the Quarterly Service Statistics Publication.

Armed Forces Regular and Reserves statistics up until 1 January 2022 can be found in Tables 1, 2a, 2b, and 2c therein at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-2022

Statistics for the number of Regular and Reserve personnel in the Armed Forces are published on a quarterly basis in the Quarterly Service Statistics Publication. The next quarterly edition, scheduled for publication on 23 June 2022, will provide the data from 1 January 2022 up to 1 April 2022. Data thereafter up to 1 July 2022 will be published in due course in the summer release of the Quarterly Service Statistics Publication.

Armed Forces Regular and Reserves statistics up until 1 January 2022 can be found in Tables 1, 2a, 2b, and 2c therein at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-2022

The information requested is provided in the following table.

The information requested is provided in the following table:

The Trained and Untrained Intake to the Regular Army by calendar year since 2017 can be found in the below table.

Source: Analysis (Army)

Notes/caveats:

1. Untrained = Individuals entering Basic Training
2. Trained = Individuals entering having completed Basic Training, i.e., entering Initial Trade Training or entering as Trade Trained

Table notes:

1. Support regiments and battalions are made up of Royal Engineers, Royal Signals, Army Air Corps, Royal Logistics Corps, Royal Army Medical Corps, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and the Intelligence Corps.

2. Units without an operational output have been excluded. For example, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland which perform a purely ceremonial function, and training regiments such as 2 (Training) Regiment, Army Air Corps.

3. Army regiments/battalions in other TLBs, for example UK Strategic Command, have been included.

4. This data is a single Service estimate and is not official statistics produced by Defence Statistics.

The ability to conduct high-end warfighting remains at the core of the British Army, including remaining a leading contributor to the NATO alliance and the ability to field a warfighting Division. The Army has two deployable divisions: 1 (UK) Division who provide a wide range of capabilities both at home and overseas; and 3 (UK) Division, the Army's primary armoured warfighting force.

In accordance with Defence's corporate governance structures and processes, the Army reports quarterly on its Performance against the goals and objectives set by the Defence Strategy and Defence Plan. For security reasons, the details of any Command's report on capability is held at higher classifications.

Between both the Army's Collective Training Establishment Transition Programme (CTETP) and the Collective Training Transformation Programme (CTTP), the Army is continuing to invest in urban training environments for use in physical training exercises, which includes the infrastructure that the right hon. Member describes.

Together these investments will represent a step change in collective training capability that better prepares the Army in challenging, realistic, multi-domain and world-leading physical urban environments. These funded enhancements include instrumentation and the development of subterranean and multi-storey capabilities, delivered together across our current urban training facilities.

In 2021, the Secretary of State for Defence approved the procurement for the first elements of a Mobile Urban Training Facilities capability, for use in Oman. This is one part of the proposed development of a Combined Regional Joint Training and Experimentation Centre being developed near Duqm. Additionally, the Army will also use the Bundeswehr's urban training facility at Altmark, Germany, for Army collective training from 2023.

In 2030, the Royal Navy will maintain its primary outputs of Homeland Defence, Carrier Strike, Littoral Strike and Persistent Engagement with more advanced capabilities, as part of Integrated Force 30.

By this point, the transition from Vanguard to Dreadnought will be moving at pace, maintaining the nation's ultimate safeguard, while the Multi Role Ocean Surveillance programme will be monitoring and protecting our Critical National Infrastructure at sea.

UK Carrier Strike will have reached Full Operating Capability, providing our conventional deterrent.

All five Type 31 frigates will have been delivered and will be forward deployed around the world. The first batch of Type 26 frigates will be on operations, protecting our aircraft carriers and the nuclear deterrent, and the transition from crewed to autonomous minehunting through the Mine Hunting Capability programme will also be well advanced.

The UK's Commando Forces will have been persistently engaged for over five years by this point, engaging with our allies and partners every day, while being ready to respond to crisis.

I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for North Durham (Kevan Jones) to Question 638 on 18 May 2022.

The Department believes that it must maintain continuous reform of its procurement process to make it more agile and ensure it delivers the best possible value for money. Our continuing improvement agenda across Defence acquisition covers five themes:

· Improving cost estimating and cost control

· Improving relationships with industry

· Delivering strategic intent and Defence priorities through our requirements

· Empowering and enabling programme leadership

· Streamlining acquisition and approvals processes and addressing project resourcing challenges.

At a tactical level the Department is very focussed on, for example, enhancing the training of its personnel and availability of SROs.

This is consistent with our commitment in the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy, published in March 2021, to increasing the pace and agility of our acquisition processes.

Meanwhile the Department is supporting the Cabinet Office-led reforms to the UK's public procurement regime, leading on sector specific rules for Defence and Security.

The focus for General Dynamics remains on ensuring vehicles comply with General Dynamics' contractual obligations. We want Ajax to succeed and to deliver what the British Army requires. I regularly update the House through written and oral statements and will continue to do so.

The MOD will not accept a vehicle that is not fit for purpose.

The detailed plan for transition from Warrior to Boxer is currently under development; the current Out of Service Date for Warrior, which is kept under review, is December 2025.

If and when vehicles are declared for disposal, potential options may include a Government to Government sale, commercial sale or recycling.

As of 31 August 2021, of the 12 Type 23 frigates in service in the Royal Navy, eight are operationally available.

As announced in the Defence Command Paper “Defence in a Competitive Age”, Warrior is being retired from service and Boxer will be the primary mechanised infantry platform for the army. AJAX will replace CVR(T) in reconnaissance roles. CVR(T) is expected to go out of service in 2023 and there may be a requirement for Warrior to be used in some reconnaissance roles until AJAX is brought into service.

The then Chief of the General Staff directed that the SCOUT vehicle should be renamed to better reflect the multi-role capability that the platform would become under the Armoured Cavalry 2025 programme. The name was recommended by senior officials as one that, with the other variant names, sat within one family. The choice was approved by the then CGS before being formally revealed at DSEI in 2015.

I can confirm that no element of the Carrier Strike Group sailed through the Taiwan Strait in July 2021. The Royal Navy will next navigate the Taiwan Strait when navigationally expeditious to do so and in accordance with international law and operational requirements. To preserve operational security, the Royal Navy does not discuss the specifics of the operational routings of ships in advance.

Rotation one of the Long Range Reconnaissance Group (LRRG) force deployed in December 2020 before the national vaccination programme began – whilst deployed vaccinations were given.

Rotation two of the LRRG are now deployed. On 24 June 2021 97% had received their first COVID-19 vaccination dose and 85% their second.

Service personnel currently deployed on the UK's Carrier Strike Group have been fully vaccinated with two doses.

There have been 24 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 amongst Service personnel deployed under Operation NEWCOMBE in Mali. Of these, 15 have been in the UK force providing support to Operation BARKHANE and nine cases amongst the Long Range Reconnaissance Group who support the UN mission.

The UK Health Security Agency was established in April 2021, with part of its remit to detect and monitor infectious diseases and other hazards to health including through surveillance, analysis, horizon scanning and early warning systems. Defence is working extremely closely with DHSC and partners across Government to establish how we might best support this work.

There are no plans to reduce the C-17 Globemaster fleet from its current size of eight aircraft.

Details of the variants of Boxer currently on order by quantity can be found in the table below. The Department is looking to enhance and uplift the size of the total UK Boxer order as we work to implement the Integrated Review. This may include new variants and partnering opportunities with industry and our Allies.

Boxer is an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), which is a sub-category of Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs).

AFVs are defined as “Land platforms designed to conduct mounted close combat”. These include: Main Battle Tanks (MBTs, such as Challenger 2), Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs, such as Warrior), Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs, such as Boxer) and reconnaissance vehicles that operate in the Forward Edge of the Battle Area (Ajax).

Boxer is not directly replacing the Warrior IFV but will be part of a new networked combat system of systems operating concept.

As with all operational policy, naval deployments are a Ministry of Defence Departmental responsibility under the Secretary of State for Defence. Where Defence activity has broader policy implications for other Government Departments, it is usual for the Defence Secretary to consult with Cabinet colleagues before issuing his direction.

There were 457 fatalities on, or subsequently due to, Op HERRICK. Of which 403 were due to hostile action. Op HERRICK ran between 1 January 2006 and 30 November 2014, during which there were 10,382 UK Service personnel casualties. Of these 5,705 were injuries, and the remainder being illness or disease.

Between 1 January 2006 and 31 March 2021, there were 645 UK Service personnel who were categorised as Very Seriously Injured (VSI), Seriously Injured (SI) or who sustained a traumatic or surgical amputation due to Op HERRICK. This includes any amputations in recent years that were elective or necessary during treatment as a result of previous injuries sustained.

As at May 2021, the total cost of Operation HERRICK to Her Majesty's Treasury Special Reserve is £22.2 billion.

The UK's contribution to NATO's Resolute Support Mission will draw down along with Allies and partners within a few months. The nature of NATO's future relationship with Afghanistan, including out of country training and the Senior Civilian Representative's office, is a matter for the UK to agree with the US and other Allies.

The majority of UK military equipment will be returned to the UK. Some equipment may be de-militarised and disposed of in Theatre should it be deemed uneconomical to recover to the UK. Should the Department propose to gift any equipment to the Government of Afghanistan, this will be reported to the House in line with established parliamentary procedure.

Astute submarines HMS ASTUTE, HMS AMBUSH, and HMS ARTFUL are in service with the Royal Navy. HMS AUDACIOUS was handed over to the Royal Navy in April 2020 and is currently undertaking sea trials.

ANSON, AGAMEMNON, and AGINCOURT are in various stages of build at the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, with ANSON having been successfully launched in April 2021.

The UK’s Combat Air strategy operates across a broad force mix. The maritime combat air role is undertaken by the UK's F35B Lightning aircraft from the UK's Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. The Future Combat Air System (FCAS), seeks to replace Typhoon once it retires from service and provide an international next generation Combat Air System, and high tempo military capabilities for decades to come.

Autonomy and uncrewed systems are at the forefront of our developmental thinking, and of the Future Maritime Aviation Force. The intent is to expand experimentation of Uncrewed Air Systems with Royal Navy vessels, including the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers, in the coming years.

The Type 26 frigate will be equipped with a Sea Ceptor anti-air missile defence system. Type 26 will also be capable of embarking a Merlin anti-submarine warfare helicopter or Wildcat maritime attack helicopter, which will be able to deploy the Sea Venom and Martlet variants of the Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon.

NATO partners, including the UK, confirmed on 14 April that an orderly and coordinated withdrawal of NATO forces will begin by May. As agreed by NATO Foreign and Defence Ministers, the withdrawal of Resolute Support Mission forces from Afghanistan will be complete within a few months. The UK's Operation TORAL forms a part of the Resolute Support Mission and as such we will draw down this operation in line with our NATO Allies and Partners. No decisions have been made on any future presence.

Our support and training of Afghan institutions, including the National Directorate of Security, Afghan National Police and Afghan National Army has strengthened the ability of the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) to counter security threats. That and other capacity-building work are aimed at increasing the self-reliance of Afghan forces in the fight against terrorism and other threats. Despite significant challenges, Afghan forces have led security in Afghanistan since 2014.

The Royal Navy will next navigate the Taiwan Strait when navigationally expeditious to do so and in accordance with international law and operational requirements.

To preserve operational security, the Royal Navy does not discuss the specifics of the operational routings of ships in advance.

There are currently four UK military personnel permanently based in India. In addition, there are five other military personnel temporarily in India. Four of these are undergoing training on Indian courses, whilst one is a temporary member of staff supporting those personnel permanently based there.

Astute submarines HMS ASTUTE, HMS AMBUSH, and HMS ARTFUL are in service with the Royal Navy. HMS AUDACIOUS was handed over to the Royal Navy in April 2020 and is currently undertaking sea trials.

ANSON, AGAMEMNON, and AGINCOURT are in various stages of build at the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, with ANSON having been successfully launched in April 2021.

The UK has two distinct, but complementary, military commitments in Mali, each with clear objectives that support HMG multilateral and bilateral objectives.

We have deployed 300 personnel to the UN's peacekeeping mission, MINUSMA. Our overall objective is to help the Mission to address and prevent conflict, and reduce the spread of insecurity across Mali and the wider Sahel, by contributing to its efforts to protect civilians and support sustainable peace.

Fulfilling a gap identified by the UN, the UK task force is designed for long-range reconnaissance, meaning they seek to understand the threats to civilians and to the Mission, and provide this information to support mission planning and effective operations.

In parallel, the UK also contributes CH47 helicopters deployed to the French-led counter-terror mission, Operation BARKHANE. Our objective is to support France and other partner nations address terrorist threats across the Sahel. Our CH47s fulfil a non-combat, logistics role, with the aim of helping troops and equipment safely transport around the vast operating environment.

The AJAX delivery schedules are currently being reviewed by the Ministry of Defence and GDLSUK. 14 non-turreted AJAX vehicles at Capability Drop 1 have been delivered to date. A further 12 turreted AJAX vehicles are currently going through General Acceptance Testing.

The Army seeks to exploit the benefits of the commonality and re-use of mission systems that can be integrated onto its vehicles. For example, Ajax, Boxer and Challenger are being configured with digital architectures that will enable greater mission system commonality in communications systems, electronic countermeasures and digital management systems. Specifically, Ajax and Boxer will use a Remote Weapon Station from a common family, and common shot detection systems; whilst Ajax and Challenger 3 share common sights and chain gun.

Although some of these common mission systems can also be fitted to Warrior, as part of the recent Integrated Review, the decision has been made not to take the Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme forward.

Two Type 45 Destroyers, HMS Daring and HMS Duncan, are currently undergoing planned deep maintenance. Work is also underway on HMS Dauntless, the first ship to enter the Type 45 Power Improvement Project.

It is planned that all six Type 45 ships will have received the Power Improvement Project upgrade by the mid-2020s. The programme is dependent on the availability of ships to undertake the upgrade, balanced against the Royal Navy's standing and future operational commitments.

Five Type 31 frigates have been ordered to be built by Babcock at Rosyth.

In the Defence Strategies published earlier this year we outlined plans to procure up to five Type 32 frigates. Work is ongoing to develop the operational concept and the programme and procurement strategy for the Type 32 will be decided following the concept phase.

I refer my right hon. Friend to the answers I gave on 7 December 2020 and 20 March 2021 to Questions 122598 and 172897 to the right hon. Member for North Durham (Kevan Jones).

Pilot operated helicopters in service with each of the Armed Forces are provided in the following table:

In addition, the Ministry of Defence has access to civilian owned helicopters provided through commercial arrangements with industry.

We do not disclose the types of munitions carried on board individual ships for operational security reasons as this would likely prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

The newly announced Ranger Regiment will initially form up in August 2021 and is to be seeded from the current Specialised Infantry Battalions with a strength of around.1,000 soldiers. This regiment will form the heart of the new Army Special Operations Brigade, receiving a share of a £120 million investment over the next four years, and will be supported by a variety of enablers. The Army will use the spring and early summer 2021 to refine and test its designs, capabilities and structures before more detailed announcements can be made.

The following helicopter variants are currently in use by the UK's Armed Forces:

Apache Mk1

Chinook Mk6a

Chinook Mk6

Chinook Mk5

Gazelle Mk1

Juno HT1

Jupiter HT1

Merlin HM2

Merlin Mk3/3a/iMk3

Merlin Mk4/4a

Puma Mk2

Wildcat AH Mk1

Wildcat HMA Mk2

The Ministry of Defence also has access to a number of helicopter types provided through contracts with industry which support discrete requirements.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister stated to the House earlier today the full conclusions of the Integrated Review will be announced in the new year.

The Challenger 2 Life Extension Project is being taken to the Ministry of Defence's Investment Approvals Committee for a main investment decision before the end of the year. The Warrior Capability Sustainment Project is currently in the Demonstration Phase. The Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) for the WCSP Manufacture Phase was released to Lockheed Martin UK (LMUK) in June 2020 with continued dialogue between the parties. LMUK's formal response to the ITN is anticipated in December 2020. It would not be appropriate to comment further on this ongoing commercial activity.

The Department keeps the threats from, and opportunities for cooperation with, China under regular review. China's production of an increasingly wide array of advanced weapons systems and its willingness to challenge the international rules-based system to suit its interests present a growing challenge for the UK and its allies.

As of 19 November 2020, the Ministry of Defence has deployed 60 planners to both DHSC and BEIS to support them with the procurement and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Defence is yet to receive a request to support the operational rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, but it stands ready to fill such a role should it be required.

The Government is actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to secure an end to the fighting and a return to the UN-led political process. The Government is currently providing no military assistance to Libya.

Since re-baselining the project in September 2017, the Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme has held to schedule. The Demonstration Phase is due to be completed in 2021. Neither the ongoing System Requirement Acceptance nor the Reliability Growth Trials have identified major issues or concerns.

In April 2019, the Investment Approvals Committee approved an expanded assessment phase to address enhancements to the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank's lethality and survivability. Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land presented a proposal in February 2020 to upgrade the tank. A Full Business Case approval is scheduled for late 2020.

Since the start of COVID-19, approximately 14,000 Defence Personnel have contributed to COVID-19. This number includes approximately 7,850 deployed personnel (including Operations RESCRIPT and BROADSHARE) and approximately 6,150 at reachback.

As set out in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, funding has been approved for the procurement of 48 Lightning aircraft out to 2025. These are being procured in lots and we have taken delivery of 18 aircraft and have contracted for 17 new airframes to be delivered between 2020 and 2022. Negotiations for further lots are ongoing.

The guiding principle of the Integrated Review is to identify the threat and the appropriate capability to meet it. Any decisions on the future direction of the Lightning programme as a result of the Integrated Review will be firmly based on those principles.

The UK's F-35 Lightning and Typhoon fleets both use the 'probe and drogue' air to air refuelling system, utilising the RAF Voyager fleet.