Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to improve the UK’s domestic capability in drone technology production.

Defence routinely engages with industry to iterate, and spiral develop capability in close cooperation with allies. One of the key mechanisms to ensure that Defence is up to date with the latest developments in drone technology and associated tactics is learning lessons from global conflicts and through our support to Ukraine, where drone capabilities are developed and exploited in cooperation with drone component suppliers. The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) recommendation to establish a Defence Uncrewed System Centre (DUSC) at Initial Operating Capability by February 2026 will be an important cohering and directing component alongside the Defence Uncrewed Systems Design Authority (DUxDA) for advancing the UK's domestic capability in drone technology production. Lessons have been learned with regard to developments in wired drone technology witnessed in the Ukraine conflict which will inform a broader understanding of where to focus Defence capability development as outlined in the SDR. Defence will continue to invest in drone technology to advance our capabilities in tandem with UK industry.