Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the merits of developing a sixth-generation jet fighter, in the light of the increasing use of unmanned drones in warfare.

Future conflicts will be more contested, faster moving and more connected than today, requiring new capabilities beyond current aircraft alone. Current operational requirements indicate that a sixth-generation combat air system should combine crewed and uncrewed platforms, leveraging the strengths of both. Through the Global Combat Air Programme, the UK is developing a next-generation fighter aircraft that will operate alongside autonomous systems as part of an integrated combat air system. The platform is being designed with the flexibility to rapidly adapt to future technological developments and evolving threats.