Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential implications of operational lessons from the war in Ukraine for UK defence procurement and capability development.

The war in Ukraine has demonstrated the importance of speed and technical innovation for UK defence procurement if we are to stay ahead of our adversaries.

The Strategic Defence Review and Defence Industrial Strategy reflect these lessons, setting out plans to overhaul acquisition. Our new segmented approach to procurement, supported by accelerated commercial pathways, is designed to enable programmes to get to contract faster.

Likewise, UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) is placing innovation at the heart of defence procurement. Backed by a ring-fenced budget, UKDI will ensure we are able to rapidly acquire the innovative technologies our Armed Forces need to keep pace with the changing nature of warfare.