James Cartlidge MP: written questions
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Written questions
Watchkeeper WK450: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112207More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the cost of extending the out of service date of Watchkeeper beyond March 2025.
Answer: The Army’s Watchkeeper Mk 1 Uncrewed Aerial System was due to be retired from service from March 2025 but will now remain in service until March 2027 to allow for the delivery of its replacement capability, Project CORVUS. The cost of keeping the Watchkee...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence Equipment: TechnologyMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110841More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Oral Statement on 26 March 2025 entitled Spring Statement, Official Report, whether any programmes in existence prior to 26 March 2025 will be included in the 1
Answer: Work to deliver the Strategic Defence Review recommendations, including directing at least 10% of our equipment procurement annually on novel technologies, which will be set out in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan.That will include a mixture a sign...
Answered 13 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110840More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November to Question 91684 on F-35 Aircraft: Procurement, who is responsible for the definition of a Defence Choice.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) uses its capability planning and decision‑making processes to balance a range of factors and ensure resources are used effectively.All financial decisions are accounted for in the MOD Annual Report and Accounts.
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110839More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November to Question 91684 on F-35 Aircraft: Procurement, if he will provide a list of all Defence Choices.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) uses its capability planning and decision‑making processes to balance a range of factors and ensure resources are used effectively.All financial decisions are accounted for in the MOD Annual Report and Accounts.
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: AllowancesMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110838More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the specified operational locations which qualify service personnel to receive the Operational Allowance.
Answer: Service personnel on deployed operations in the following Specified Operational Locations qualify for the payment of Operational Allowance: Chad (all locations)Egypt (Sinai only)Iraq (all locations)Mali (all locations)Somalia (all locations)South Sudan (a...
Answered 13 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDstlMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110837More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Government press release entitled Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection, published on 17 July 25, if the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) will be re
Answer: As set out in the answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention to a Parliamentary Question in July 2025, ‘The move [of the UKHSA facility] to Harlow [from Porton Down] will only affect UK Health Security Agency (UK...
Answered 19 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air SystemsMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110836More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will state the total cost of delivering Project Corvus.
Answer: Project CORVUS is scheduled to deliver Minimum Deployable Capability in late 2026, in advance of the Watchkeeper Out of Service Date of March 2027. The project is currently out to tender and aims to select a bidder by April 2026. Project CORVUS is current...
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air SystemsMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110835More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress he has made on delivering Project Corvus.
Answer: Project CORVUS is scheduled to deliver Minimum Deployable Capability in late 2026, in advance of the Watchkeeper Out of Service Date of March 2027. The project is currently out to tender and aims to select a bidder by April 2026. Project CORVUS is current...
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordBOWMAN combat radio systemMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110834More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the out of service date for Bowman.
Answer: On current plans, Bowman's Out of Service Date will be no later than 2035, and no earlier than 2031.
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110833More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January to Question 107733 on Unmanned Air Systems: Procurement, what conditions need to be met to declare Initial Operating Capability.
Answer: I am withholding the definition and specific criteria for achieving Initial Operational Capability as it would harm the security and capability of the Armed Forces. The milestone is clearly defined and the Ministry of Defence is working to ensure the nece...
Answered 11 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordFrigates: Antisubmarine WarfareMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110832More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has held discussions regarding the number of Anti-Submarine Warfare frigates that will be manufactured as part of the £10 billion deal with Norway.
Answer: Indeed, the Secretary of State has been in Norway in the past few days. The Secretary of State engages routinely with his Norwegian counterpart as part of the evolving UK-Norway strategic defence partnership.
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordArtillery: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110831More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January to Question 105260 on Artillery: Procurement, when the full production contract will be placed.
Answer: On current plans, the Department intends to place the full production contract for the Mobile Fires Platform in the coming months. Negotiations with the supplier are ongoing, and the Department is making every effort to bring these to a positive conclusio...
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: Artificial IntelligenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110830More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January to Question 99911, if he will name the two AI contracts that have been awarded by his Department since 5 July 2024.
Answer: I am withholding this information for the purpose of safeguarding national security.
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordTyphoon Aircraft: RadarMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110829More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 26 January to Question 107089 on Typhoon Aircraft: Radar, whether the £205 million investment to deliver the European Common Radar System (ECRS) MK2 includes funding for the Phase 4 Enha
Answer: The recently announced £205 million, 5-year contract with QinetiQ provides a range of expert technical advice and services to help keep Typhoon safe, airworthy, and upgraded to the latest capability standard. The contract will include technical advice and...
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: Higher EducationMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110828More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 30 January to Question 107727 on Unmanned Air Systems: Higher Education, how many of the (a) civilians and (b) soldiers enrolled on the undergraduate drone degree does he expect to parti
Answer: Centralised training in small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (sUAS) is delivered by the Land Warfare Centre, with distributed training subsequently provided by individual units within the Field Army. As of February 2026, 282 personnel are currently participati...
Answered 13 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: TrainingMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110827More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel will participate in the British Army's small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems training pathways in each remaining financial year of the current Parliament.
Answer: Centralised training in small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (sUAS) is delivered by the Land Warfare Centre, with distributed training subsequently provided by individual units within the Field Army. As of February 2026, 282 personnel are currently participati...
Answered 13 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: TrainingMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110826More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel are currently participating in the British Army's small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems training pathways.
Answer: Centralised training in small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (sUAS) is delivered by the Land Warfare Centre, with distributed training subsequently provided by individual units within the Field Army. As of February 2026, 282 personnel are currently participati...
Answered 13 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordSkynet: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110825More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 30 January to Question 108701 on Skynet: Procurement, when the Skynet 6A will complete the testing and validation phase.
Answer: The Skynet 6 Programme continues to progress in support of Defence’s satellite communications requirements.The testing and validation of Skynet 6A is expected to complete final acceptance activity by mid-2027, leading to issue of the Certificate of Accept...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: TestingMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110824More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) UK and (b) international long-range kinetic drone testing sites will be operational in each remaining financial year of the current Parliament.
Answer: Defence uses various sites within the United Kingdom and overseas to test and evaluate operational capabilities. Capabilities are aligned to range standing orders, Training Danger Area limitations and the operational range of the system being evaluated. G...
Answered 11 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordWatchkeeper WK450: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110450More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the out of service date for Watchkeeper.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 October 2025 to Question 77261 to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr Obese-Jecty) which remains extant: As announced by the Secretary of State in 2024, the Army’s Watchkeeper Mk 1 Uncrewed Aerial System i...
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: TestingMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110449More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish a list of all (a) UK and (b) overseas sites currently used for long-range kinetic drone testing broken down by the maximum range of each location.
Answer: Defence uses various sites within the United Kingdom and overseas to test and evaluate operational capabilities. Capabilities are aligned to range standing orders, Training Danger Area limitations and the operational range of the system being evaluated. G...
Answered 11 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: TestingMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110448More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether there is a maximum range at which long-range kinetic drones can be tested.
Answer: Defence uses various sites within the United Kingdom and overseas to test and evaluate operational capabilities. Capabilities are aligned to range standing orders, Training Danger Area limitations and the operational range of the system being evaluated. G...
Answered 11 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: TestingMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110447More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish a list of all (a) UK and (b) overseas sites currently used for long-range kinetic drone testing.
Answer: Defence uses various sites within the United Kingdom and overseas to test and evaluate operational capabilities. Capabilities are aligned to range standing orders, Training Danger Area limitations and the operational range of the system being evaluated. G...
Answered 11 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110446More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January to Question 107733 on Unmanned Air Systems: Procurement, if he will provide the reason that the Protector RG MK1 did not declare Initial Operating Capability.
Answer: I am withholding the definition and specific criteria for achieving Initial Operational Capability as it would harm the security and capability of the Armed Forces. The milestone is clearly defined and the Ministry of Defence is working to ensure the nece...
Answered 11 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110445More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January to Question 107733 on Unmanned Air Systems: Procurement, how many Protector RG MK1s need to be in use in order to declare Initial Operating Capability.
Answer: I am withholding the definition and specific criteria for achieving Initial Operational Capability as it would harm the security and capability of the Armed Forces. The milestone is clearly defined and the Ministry of Defence is working to ensure the nece...
Answered 11 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
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