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Written question asked by Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative) on Friday, 17 October 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 21 October 2025. It was answered by Luke Pollard (Labour) on Monday, 27 October 2025 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Unmanned Air Systems: Procurement

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 65 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, what the (a) scope and (b) criteria are of the new competitions to create long range, cheap and mass-produced one-way attack drones.

Answer

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is working with the Front-Line Commands (FLCs) and across the ecosystem to build on existing uncrewed systems (UxS) delivery. There is significant work ongoing across Defence on the development of UxS as we look to rapidly iterate novel capabilities, learn lessons from Ukraine, support the Government's growth agenda and grow the UK technology sector. A competition for novel uncrewed aerial systems will launch in early 2026.

There is a wide spectrum of UxS requirements from across Defence, some are complementary whilst others are bespoke to each Service. The scope and requirement of competitions for will primarily look at range, payload, size and survivability of UxS as required by the FLCs.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
83142
Session
2024-26
Related items
Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth
Monday, 8 September 2025
Command papers
House of Commons
House of Lords
Unmanned Air Systems: Procurement
Thursday, 9 July 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Procurement Unmanned air systems
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk