Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the result of the trial drone against drone engagement using the APKWS precision-guided rocket conducted by BAE Systems Falconworks unit.

The trial referenced by the hon. Member was conducted by BAE Systems for a multi-rotor Uncrewed Air System (UAS) and the information on the trial can be found on the open internet.

The UK Armed Forces remain steadfast in their commitment to advancing their already strong capabilities. They continuously explore the potential adoption of new equipment, including drones, to ensure they remain at the forefront of operational effectiveness.

This Government launched the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) a path for the next decade and beyond to transform Defence. We are delivering our commitment to spend 2.6% of GDP on defence, accelerating it to 2027, and we have set the ambition to reach 3% in the next Parliament.

A key part of the SDR's vision for UK defence is innovation driven by lessons from Ukraine - harnessing drones, data, and digital warfare to make our Armed Forces stronger and safer. The SDR recommends that the Royal Air Force should shift towards the greater use of uncrewed systems as an immediate priority.

As part of this transformation, uncrewed and autonomous systems will be incorporated into the Royal Air Force through a broad mix of capabilities to enhance operational effectiveness. This Government is investing an additional £2 billion this Parliament into autonomous systems, including drones, and will establish a new Defence Uncrewed Systems Centre at initial operating capability by February 2026.

The exact types of uncrewed systems to be procured and the associated investment will be determined as part of the Defence Investment Plan.