Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to procure long-range strike drones.

The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) sets out the Government’s commitment to invest more than £5 billion in autonomous systems over the next four years, including drones and other uncrewed capabilities, with at least £210 million on low-cost, long-range one-way munitions and attack drones. The DIP also provides for investment in long-range missiles, autonomous systems and artificial intelligence to increase the lethality and effectiveness of the Armed Forces.

These investments will help deliver the Strategic Defence Review’s vision for a more integrated, technologically advanced and warfighting-ready force.