The F-35B is an operationally deployable combat aircraft. Capability is enhanced through regular, incremental software releases delivered through the global F-35 programme, rather than a single combat capable release.

The Ministry of Defence keeps its approach to digital technology, including the selection and use of operating systems on its devices, under continual review and regularly assesses developments in the wider international environment.

Decisions on platforms are based on operational requirements, security, resilience and value for money, and are subject to robust governance and assurance processes.

Defence makes decisions based on its own requirements, while taking account of relevant international developments where appropriate. All technology choices within Defence must comply with strict security and device management policies, ensuring systems can be managed effectively at an enterprise level and meet mandated cyber security standards.

UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) has been established to harness UK ingenuity and boost military technology, as part of the Government’s drive to turbocharge innovation in defence and deliver growth as part of the Plan for Change.

UKDI will be fully operational by July 2026 and will have a ringfenced budget of at least £400 million from financial year 2025-26 with the ambition for this to rise as UKDI becomes established.

The Ministry of Defence works closely with UK industry and academia, including Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME), to identify and invest in innovative technologies that address our most pressing capability challenges. This includes businesses specialising in software, artificial intelligence, and data analytics.

The Department recognises that software firms are increasingly vital to defence research and development, providing specialised expertise and innovation in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and data analytics. While traditional prime contractors continue to play a key role in large-scale system integration and delivery, software companies complement this by accelerating technological advancement and agility.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has taken significant strides in our approach to defence procurement since 2024, as laid out in both the Defence Industrial Strategy and in a recent Gov.UK notice titled “Ministry of Defence small and medium-sized enterprise engagement”.

The establishment of UK Defence Innovation in 2025, as well as the continued efforts of Commercial X including the new Defence Unicorn Fund from earlier this year, are helping our Armed Forces obtain innovative, ground-breaking technologies faster, speeding up procurement cycles, and simplifying terms & conditions where needed. This includes working with non-traditional players in areas such as software, AI, and data analytics.

Potential suppliers are also welcome to join the Defence Sourcing Portal, the Neutral Vendor Framework, the Dynamic Marketplace, and the Defence Innovation Marketplace, as appropriate, as a means to promote their services to the MOD.

I welcome innovation across the Defence industrial sector. The Ministry of Defence is aware of the importance of the Electromagnetic battlespace and is pursuing a number of options, both in the near-term and in the research and development programme, to address military needs.

There are several initiatives across Defence that relate to the development of Combat Management System (CMS). Examples of these initiatives are in ASGARD (Army), NEXUS (RAF) and the Digital Targeting Web (DTW - CSOC), though it is worth noting that each has developed and experimented with capabilities that fit specific uses cases that may not be aligned.

Defence Digital have had stakeholder input in several of these but have not been solely responsible for any singular app development. Defence Digital is however, responsible for the Digital Backbone, accelerating military and business capabilities, delivering a resilient, multi-classification foundation of seamlessly integrated capabilities. It encourages reusability and enables easy access to data, all of which are managed, supported and battle ready. The mandating of architecture standards to industry and developers across Defence through digital.mod.uk ensures that any apps and services that are leveraged by the Digital Backbone can be integrated and interoperable across those that consume Backbone services.

The Department is working with the Home Office and NHS Digital to develop a national firearms digital marker for use within general practice. NHS Digital plans to expand existing patient record content with additional markers to indicate whether the patient has applied for or holds a firearms license. These new markers will enhance existing local arrangements and alerting functionality to alert the general practitioner to any medical conditions as part of the license application process or after the license has been granted, which may impact the patient’s suitability to hold a firearms license.

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) led catch recording application currently remains in a ‘public beta’ phase, which includes a rollout of the service to the fishing sector. During this phase the MMO has published information, advice and guidance to provide support to all users. Current figures indicate over 80% of the active under 10 metre fleet have adopted the new recording method with over 80,000 catch records successfully submitted.

The MMO remains committed to continuous improvement based on feedback from stakeholders to improve the app’s functionality and since launching the app this feedback has helped inform additional system improvements. This has included increasing the number of ports available within the app and the ability to record weights of fish lower than 1kg.

We have not provided specific advice to contractors relating to the NHS COVID-19 app, but we are encouraging contractors to adhere to all Government advice, and we continue to signpost all relevant guidance to our suppliers.

Up to 30 June 2020, the Marine Management Organisation received 26,333 catch records and 31,261 sales notes from under 10 metre English-licenced fishing vessels.

Catch records submitted through the Catch App and data submitted through sales notes are not always directly comparable. Catch records from multiple landings by the same vessel can be combined into one sale, and sales to multiple buyers can be generated from a single landing. In addition, fishers are able to sell fish directly to members of the public for private consumption in batches of up to 30kg without the requirement for submission of a sales note.

There is no plan to replace the current under 10 metre catch recording application. In line with Agile development principles and common to many Government digital services, the app remains in a ‘public beta’ phase of development. The Marine Management Organisation is committed to continuous improvement based on feedback from stakeholders to improve the app’s functionality and utility.

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has not taken any enforcement action using evidence from the Catch Recording app as outlined in the MMO’s response to the public consultation in June 2019. The MMO’s priority has been to continue to support the under 10 metre fleet to adjust to the new licence condition to record their catches of quota species via workshops, drop-in sessions and digital support. The MMO will provide notice to the fishing sector before moving in to an enforcement phase.

The development of the Catch Recording application has followed standard Government practice and was quality-assured by the Government Digital Service (GDS). The app is currently in a ‘public beta’ phase, which includes a rollout of the service to the fishing sector. During this phase the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has published information, advice and guidance to provide support to all users. Current figures indicate a significant portion (77%) of the active under 10 metre fleet have adopted the new recording method with over 27,000 catch records successfully submitted. The comprehensive data that catch recording offers will enable the MMO to have confidence in its assessments of the total volumes and species of fish being taken from English waters by the under 10 metre fleet.

The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Victoria Prentis MP, has responsibility for this policy area. The Secretary of State, the Rt Hon George Eustice MP, has overall responsibility for all departmental activity.

The catch recording application was introduced as the best solution to capture recorded landings for the under 10 metre fishing fleet. The app has undergone extensive user research and testing involving representatives from the fishing industry. 77% of those invited to register have already done so, submitting over 27,000 records through the application to date. Since January 2020, an average 936 records have been successfully submitted through the application each week by vessels registered in England.

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has clarified publicly in updates published on 10 and 26 February 2020 that there would be further time for those within the fishing industry to adjust to the introduction of the new catch recording application.

In addition to continued one-to-one support from coastal offices, the MMO has held over 15 drop-in sessions around the country earlier this year to support the fishing industry with the continued roll out. The MMO continues to work on implementing improvements to the catch recording app based on feedback from existing users. Some of the improvements already implemented include the addition of further ports and species to the app and making it possible to record weights less than 1kg.

The MMO are continuing to work with industry to improve the service, in terms of its functionality and utility. The MMO remain committed to continuing to listen to and support the fishing community in adapting to this new requirement, making changes to the system where necessary.

Scientific surveys conducted by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science have highlighted that data derived from sales notes and other historic documentation does not accurately reflect the volumes of fish being landed and sold by the under-10m fleet as a whole. These are consistent with the findings of European Commission audits carried out in 2011-12.

The requirement for the digital solution for catch recording, including an app, formed part of the beta assessment conducted by the Government Digital Service. As outlined in the published assessment report, the service passed the beta assessment stage.

The length of time used for the beta phase of the catch recording service development followed Government Digital Service standards. This involved two phases: a ‘private’ beta phase of service development which involved inviting a limited number of individuals; and a ‘public’ beta phase which involved opening the service up to all users in a phased roll-out.

Feedback obtained from fishers and support personnel during the beta phase of development is held and reflected the need for a simple mobile application.

The Marine Management Organisation continues to work on implementing improvements to the catch recording app based on feedback from existing users.

The assessment undertaken by the Government Digital Service (GDS) focused on ensuring that during the development of the catch recording application the Service Standard had been considered and met. The GDS Service Standard covers a wide range of specific elements including understanding users and their needs, making services simple to use and choosing the right tools and technology. It is available to view on the GOV.UK website at: www.gov.uk/service-manual/service-standard. Other data related systems were not reviewed or assessed by GDS.