Ben Obese-Jecty MP: written questions
Written questions by answering department
4 Jul 2025–3 Jul 2026. One record per UIN and tabled date; the named department is not a measure of answer quality.
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2023 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Type 45 Destroyers: Guided WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 20 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3448More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what smart precision guided munitions are currently in use by the Royal Navy in the main armament on the Type 45 destroyer.
Answer: The Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyers are equipped with the Sea Viper air defence system, which employs the Aster family of precision-guided missiles to engage and defeat a range of airborne threats. These radar-guided munitions form the core of the ship’s ...
Answered 2 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAUKUS: Artificial IntelligenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 20 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3447More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on developing the artificial intelligence stream of AUKUS Pillar 2.
Answer: The AI stream of AUKUS Pillar 2 seeks to accelerate the development of AI and autonomous capabilities and ensure interoperability between the three nations. Early iterations of an AUKUS AI Toolbox (which will allow AUKUS partners to rapidly train, re-trai...
Answered 2 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordArtillery: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 20 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3446More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the press release entitled Next-generation remote controlled artillery systems to transform British Army, published on 13 May 2026, when (a) 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, (b) 4th Regiment
Answer: RCH 155 fielding plans remain subject to refinement, and it is therefore not possible to confirm when individual regiments will receive their first systems. Fielding plans will remain dynamic to prioritise critical training, testing and evaluation, and qu...
Answered 2 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordF-35 Aircraft: Cruise MissilesMinistry of DefenceTabled 20 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3441More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 21 April 2026 to question 126805 on F-35 Aircraft: Cruise Missiles, what capabilities are included within the scope of the spiral capability upgrades.
Answer: The immediate priority is to finalise the integration of SPEAR 3 to the F35B, seeking to accelerate where the US controlled programme permits to realise the warfighting capability. Once in service, the already highly capable weapon will be subject to Spir...
Answered 2 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAmmunition: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 19 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3168More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of adopting the 6mm Advanced Rifle Cartridge (6×38mm) for use in a) individual and b) specialist weapons within the UK armed forces.
Answer: As advised in my previous answer to Question 125983, Project GRAYBURN is currently in its concept phase. An important output of this phase will be the definition of user requirements, covering the full range of performance characteristics, including calib...
Answered 27 May 2026
Original Parliament recordArtillery: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 19 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3167More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the press release entitled Next-generation remote controlled artillery systems to transform British Army, published on 13 May 2026, when did discussions regarding the procurement of RCH155 start
Answer: The project entered its concept phase in late 2018.
Answered 28 May 2026
Original Parliament recordF-35 Aircraft: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 19 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3113More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has he made with Lockheed Martin in facilitating the delivery of the two F-35Bs stranded at Lajes International Airport on Terceira Island in the Azores since March 2026.
Answer: The final two aircraft from the initial procurement phase were delivered to RAF Marham on 22 May 2026. This brings the total number of F-35Bs delivered to 48.
Answered 1 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 19 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2971More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 16 April 2026, to question 124247 on Defence: Expenditure, what discussions he has had with NATO counterparts on the date for publication of the UK's defence spending figures for 2026-27
Answer: The publication of Allies' defence spending figures is handled by NATO in line with its usual processes. NATO will inform Allies of its plans closer to the potential publication date.
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordAir Force: Unmanned Air SystemsMinistry of DefenceTabled 19 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2969More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his foreword in the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, what progress he has made in delivering autonomous fighters as part of a next-generation RAF.
Answer: Work to deliver the Strategic Defence Review recommendations, including on delivering autonomous fighters, will be set out in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan.
Answered 1 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: Space TechnologyMinistry of DefenceTabled 19 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2968More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the fourth report of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy (CP1338), published on 24 June 2025, what progress he has made in enabling closer cooperation with the EU on space secu
Answer: Whilst NATO remains the cornerstone of Europe’s collective defence, we wholly recognise the important role the EU plays in the security of Europe. That is why this Government agreed the UK-EU Security and Defence Partnership (SDP). The SDP makes provision...
Answered 28 May 2026
Original Parliament recordBoeing P-8: TorpedoesMinistry of DefenceTabled 19 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2966More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, by what date does he plan to direct award the contract for the integration of the Sting Ray Mod 1 torpedo onto the RAF’s fleet of P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to BAE Systems Surface Ships Limited.
Answer: The initial contract for the basic integration of the Sting Ray Mod 1 torpedo onto the RAF’s fleet of P-8 Poseidon Maritime Patrol aircraft was awarded to BAES Systems Surface Ships Ltd in December 2024 and work is ongoing to deliver this initial capabili...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordTrident Submarines: ShipbuildingMinistry of DefenceTabled 19 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2965More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his foreword in his Department's publication entitled The Strategic Defence Review 2025: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, updated on 8 July 2025, when he expects the next sub
Answer: On current plans, construction of SSN-AUKUS submarines will start in the late 2020s, with the aim to deliver the first UK submarines into service in the late 2030s.To meet this demand we are, as announced in the Spending Review, investing more than £6 bil...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordAustralia: Nuclear SubmarinesMinistry of DefenceTabled 19 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2964More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the establishment of new SSN-AUKUS facilities in Australia on levels of workforce retention at conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines (SSN) facilit
Answer: AUKUS Pillar 1 cannot be realised without the essential personnel and expertise needed to design, build, operate, maintain and decommission SSNs, but it also offers an unprecedented opportunity to integrate and grow the submarine building workforce of all...
Answered 27 May 2026
Original Parliament recordGlobal Combat Air Programme: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 19 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2963More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made in securing funding for the Global Combat Air Programme beyond the existing deal with Edgewing.
Answer: The UK remains committed to the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), working closely with our international partners to deliver a next generation combat air capability. Our focus is on continuing to work closely with Italy and Japan on the next steps towar...
Answered 1 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordRussia: ShippingMinistry of DefenceTabled 19 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2959More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 29 April 2026 to Question 128971 on Shipping: Sanctions, what the legal basis is for conducting maritime interdiction operations against sanctioned Russian Shadow Fleet vessels tra
Answer: Sanctions enforcement is taken by various enforcement bodies under powers in the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018, and regulations made under it, UK armed forces may support those agencies in the exercise of their powers. All interdiction acti...
Answered 1 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordNavy: Repairs and MaintenanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 19 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2940More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will set out the full scope of the Naval Support Integrated Global Network programme.
Answer: The Naval Support Integrated Global Network (NSIGN) programme is the successor to the Future Maritime Support Programme and will deliver in-service support to Royal Navy ships and submarines, alongside services enabling the maintenance and operation of so...
Answered 27 May 2026
Original Parliament recordChina: National SecurityMinistry of DefenceTabled 19 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2939More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the fourth report of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy entitled National Security Strategy 2025: Security for the British People in a Dangerous World, published on 24 June 20
Answer: Our approach to China is robust and consistent - we will co-operate where we can and challenge where we must. We are strengthening our domestic resilience, deepening alliances and partnerships overseas, and investing in capabilities, ensuring the UK is bo...
Answered 28 May 2026
Original Parliament recordAustralia: Nuclear SubmarinesMinistry of DefenceTabled 19 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2938More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the AUKUS Pillar 1 plan announced in 2023, what assessment he has made of the ability of the Royal Navy to facilitate an ongoing rotational presence of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered subm
Answer: The AUKUS partnership, announced in March 2023, sets out a phased approach under Pillar 1 to deliver a trilateral programme of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs), including a rotational UK and US presence in the Indo-Pacific from as e...
Answered 27 May 2026
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: Health and SafetyMinistry of DefenceTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2304More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 21 April 2026 to question 126820 on Ajax Vehicles: Health and Safety, following statement HCWS1545, published on 28 April 2026, when is the Independent Expert Panel Review final report s
Answer: I can confirm the Independent Expert Panel Review has now concluded and the report is being reviewed. As I have done since Exercise Titan Storm I will continue to update the House on progress with Ajax.
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordAUKUS: Guided WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2301More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on developing the hypersonic and counter-hypersonic capabilities stream of AUKUS Pillar 2.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him on 20 April 2026, to Questions 125446 and Question 125418.
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordF-35 Aircraft: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2250More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made in establishing a third F-35 squadron by 2033.
Answer: All spending decisions on capabilities are taken as part of the Defence Investment Plan.
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordArtillery: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2232More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the press release entitled Next-generation remote controlled artillery systems to transform British Army, published on 13 May 2026, how many tranches of RCH155 delivery will be split over; and o
Answer: RCH 155 will be delivered individually rather than in tranches. Deliveries are expected to take place between 2028 and 2032.
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordNavy: Unmanned Air SystemsMinistry of DefenceTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2231More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the Regentcraft Squire sea glider drone as part of the Royal Navy’s capabilities in the High North.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence continually monitors emerging maritime technologies, including uncrewed and novel platforms, to assess their potential contribution to Royal Navy capabilities, including in challenging environments such as the High North. While we ...
Answered 28 May 2026
Original Parliament recordNavy: Unmanned Marine SystemsMinistry of DefenceTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2228More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the answer of 20 April 2026 to question 125359 on Teledyne Marine: Navy, by when he plans to deliver APEX floats to the Royal Navy.
Answer: APEX floats, alongside other autonomous ocean observing systems, will be delivered as part of the Royal Navy’s Maritime Data Gathering programme, provided by Teledyne Marine to enhance the collection and exploitation of maritime environmental data.
Answered 28 May 2026
Original Parliament recordItaly: Military AlliancesMinistry of DefenceTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2227More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the fourth report of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy, CP1338, published on 24 June 2025, what progress he has made on strengthening the interoperability of UK and Italy’s c
Answer: Italy is a close NATO ally of the United Kingdom, and as carrier nations that both operate F-35B aircraft there is consistent collaboration, both bilaterally and through the European Carrier Group Interoperability Initiative (ECGII). As part of Operation ...
Answered 27 May 2026
Original Parliament record
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