The information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

There is a range of test and evaluation activity planned across Project CORVUS, Project NYX, Uncrewed Ground Vehicle development activities and other Army uncrewed and autonomous capability programmes. However, costs specific to test and evaluation are not accounted for separately from wider programme and operating costs.

The information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

There is a range of Test and Evaluation activity planned across the Protector RG1 programme, the Stormshroud programme, Collaborative Combat Aircraft, and other technology development programmes. However, costs specific to Test and Evaluation are not accounted for separately from wider programme and operating costs.

The information required to answer the question is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost to the Department.

The Stratus programme continually advances the technology readiness levels and system maturity through a combination of modelling, sub-system testing and trials. To date, the programme has completed testing of the airframe design, engine demonstration, warhead and seeker performance. The first full scale system tests are scheduled from 2028.

Autonomous capability is at the forefront of Uncrewed Systems development across air, land, maritime and sub-surface domains. Ministry of Defence will optimise use of the Test, Trials, Training & Evaluation partnership with QinetiQ backed by a £1.54 billion contract extension from 2025 to 2030 which is running in parallel to the Test & Evaluation Transformation Programme. Greater use will be made of innovative high-fidelity synthetic testing from 2029.

The DroneTEX investment project has £234 million committed, with the Defence Investment Plan committing £310 million to further develop the Uncrewed Systems Centre, autonomy testing infrastructure and fund personnel to deliver world class validation of autonomy capabilities.

Defence is spending over £5 billion on autonomous systems to enable transformation by 2030 which is the largest ever drone investment in Defence. We recognise that more testing capability is required to support this and so have announced the new Defence Uncrewed Systems Centre in Swindon, including the recently opened DroneTEX testing facility, to coordinate all output with industry, partners, and allies.

In addition to the large number of current drone testing sites in the UK and in our overseas territories, we will invest to exploit the size, scale, and freedom of the key site in Canada at the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) for testing and evaluation and to accelerate delivery of capability. This will enable uncrewed systems activity across 2,700m² of training area.

Defence is spending over £5 billion on autonomous systems to enable transformation by 2030 which is the largest ever drone investment in Defence. We recognise that more testing capability is required to support this and so have announced the new Defence Uncrewed Systems Centre in Swindon, including the recently opened DroneTEX testing facility, to coordinate all output with industry, partners, and allies.

In addition to the large number of current drone testing sites in the UK and in our overseas territories, we will invest to exploit the size, scale, and freedom of the key site in Canada at the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) for testing and evaluation and to accelerate delivery of capability. This will enable uncrewed systems activity across 2,700m² of training area.

Given the speed of technical innovation in uncrewed and autonomous systems, the MOD is mindful of the need to accelerate acquisition timelines, including approval timelines for testing.

The new Defence Uncrewed Systems Centre in Swindon is taking a lead role in addressing regulation in the autonomy space, with the aim to establish a regulatory pathway for defence innovation which will help reduce timelines.

As part of our commitment to support SMEs and aid UK growth the MOD and QinetiQ, who operate MOD’s Test & Evaluation ranges, have introduced a Test & Evaluation Innovation Gateway to accelerate access and availability.

The Ministry of Defence launched a review of the regulatory system governing uncrewed and autonomous systems in defence in February 2026, inviting contributions from industry and the wider public. Defence is committed to reforming regulation to ease the burden on industry and drive innovation.

The Regulating for Growth Bill contains sandbox measures that would greatly assist defence’s testing abilities for uncrewed and autonomous systems.

The Ministry of Defence launched a review of the regulatory system governing uncrewed and autonomous systems in defence in February 2026, inviting contributions from industry and the wider public. Defence is committed to reforming regulation to ease the burden on industry and drive innovation.

The Regulating for Growth Bill contains sandbox measures that would greatly assist defence’s testing abilities for uncrewed and autonomous systems.

UK trials for the low-cost air defence effector under the LEAP initiative are currently planned for Autumn 2026; however, this is dependent on engagement with industry and the maturity of the solutions offered. This will be followed by multilateral trials with our European partners in 2027.

The Land Regional Hub in Germany is a vital asset for the British Army, providing a forward-deployed presence to support NATO's collective defence and enabling rapid responses to potential threats in Europe. It serves as a key logistics and operational hub, supporting training, exercises, and deployments, while fostering interoperability with allied forces. The Hub is actively utilised for multinational training and exercises, and its role in enhancing readiness and collaboration with European partners remains a priority. Future use of the Hub will continue to align with the UK's defence commitments and NATO objectives.

Exercises at the Land Regional Hub Germany are recorded by calendar year rather than financial year. In line with the priorities set out in the Strategic Defence Review, the Army continues to adapt its training programme to support NATO requirements, enhance land forces competency, and deliver wider defence engagement.

For calendar year 2026, 14 exercises are currently planned. These activities are designed to be larger in scale and longer in duration, reflecting our focus on more complex and demanding training to meet NATO’s evolving needs.

Exercise plans are kept under regular review to ensure they remain aligned with Defence priorities. Planning for 2027 is ongoing and final exercise numbers are yet to be confirmed.

Uncrewed systems will be utilised in exercises as part of routine Army Training.

The Ministry of Defence does not hold centralised records for the overall operating costs of the Land Regional Hub Germany (LRH(G)), as it is comprised of multiple component sites and functions, each managed by different organisations within Defence. Therefore, it is not possible to provide a consolidated figure for the operating costs of the Land Regional Hub in Germany for this financial year or future years of this Parliament.

The Global Hub Oman (GHO) has facilitated uncrewed systems testing at Ras Madrakah Training Area.

British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) continues to be used for both training and testing activity, including for uncrewed systems, and will remain a location for the Army’s testing of such systems throughout the current Parliament.

Five exercises are scheduled to take place in each of financial years 2025-26 and 2026-27.

Regarding future use of BATUK, the Defence Cooperation Agreement limits annual exercising personnel to 8,000. While the number of exercises is likely to reduce, the Army intends to shift towards fewer but larger brigade level exercises involving multiple battlegroups, rather than single battlegroup deployments.

This financial year, we forecast expenditure of approximately £56 million for the conduct of military exercises and the maintenance of BATUK, with costs expected to rise to reflect the conduct of larger exercises throughout FY2026-27 and FY 2027-28. Costs beyond FY 2027-28 are not expected to diverge significantly.

*Data for FY 2015-16 and 2016-17 may be incomplete due to MOD data retention policy.‑retention policy.

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. Given the geographical constraints of the United Kingdom, some capabilities are better evaluated overseas alongside our allies and partners.

I am unable to provide further details due to operational sensitivities.

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. Given the geographical constraints of the United Kingdom, some capabilities are better evaluated overseas alongside our allies and partners.

I am unable to provide further details due to operational sensitivities.

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. Given the geographical constraints of the United Kingdom, some capabilities are better evaluated overseas alongside our allies and partners.

I am unable to provide further details due to operational sensitivities.

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. Given the geographical constraints of the United Kingdom, some capabilities are better evaluated overseas alongside our allies and partners.

I am unable to provide further details due to operational sensitivities.

The Army is currently planning to use the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) for the testing of uncrewed systems in the spring of this year, supported by uncrewed trials expertise from the Joint 744 Naval Air Squadron. Plans beyond this and the future use of BATUS is dependent upon the outcome of the Defence Investment Plan.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question 100495 on 24 December 2025.