Defence Technology 2023-01-30
2023-01-30
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Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP inquires about the development of innovative technologies within the Ministry of Defence.
What steps his Department is taking to develop innovative defence technology?
The Ministry of Defence works closely with British industry and academia, including small and medium-sized enterprises, to identify and invest in innovative technologies that address our most pressing capability challenges. We are already testing and deploying these technologies.
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Q2
Direct Answer
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The MP highlights the role of smaller enterprises like Flare Bright and others at Westcott Venture Park, questioning if these small innovative companies are valued equally by the MOD.
Will my hon. and learned Friend assure me that when it comes to the development of new defence innovations, such smaller, dynamic enterprises are as valued to his Department as the more traditional big beasts?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right: a lot of innovation does indeed come from agile SMEs, which is why the MOD's SME action plan is firmly aimed at improving access for SMEs to work right through the defence supply chain. The MOD has a target that 25% of its procurement spend will go directly and indirectly to SMEs—up from around 16% in 2016. We are on the right path but there is further to go.
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Q3
Direct Answer
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The MP discusses the quality of food for service personnel as part of their overall wellbeing.
Does my hon. and learned Friend agree that we must also prioritise the wellbeing of our personnel? One way to do that is to ensure that the quality of their food matches the calibre of their kit.
My hon. Friend is of course absolutely right. Ensuring that our service personnel receive good-quality meals is a vital contribution to defence capability, which is why the Ministry of Defence has established a team of subject-matter experts to overhaul and modernise the delivery of defence catering using the findings of the “Delivering Defence Dining Quality” review and the ongoing Army Eats trials to inform change to the total food offer. The trials began in 2020 and the results are expected imminently.
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Q4
Partial Answer
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The MP asks about international partnerships and the areas of collaboration.
Will my hon. and learned Friend confirm that our new partnership with Japan and Italy will involve collaborating in areas such as weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles, and not just on fighter jets?
The ambition of this truly international programme is principally to deliver a cutting-edge fighter aircraft, providing a credible deterrent to future threats. This is a system of systems, and it may include uncrewed aircraft, new sensors, weapons, advanced data systems and secure networks. Those wider capabilities may be developed together with our wider partners or with our existing partners in that endeavour.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific areas such as weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles were not confirmed
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Q5
Direct Answer
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The MP inquires about the impact on the RAF's technological capabilities following a recent MoU with Imperial College London.
How do Ministers expect that will impact on the RAF's technological capabilities, particularly around digital and artificial intelligence?
Digital and artificial intelligence are central to RAF capability. Significant investment has taken place in Lincolnshire to ensure that when those aircraft take to the skies, they have the weapons systems but also the battlefield management plans that they require to ensure that they can take the fight to the enemy.
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