10 Dec 21. On Tuesday, December 14 at 00.01, the Defence Committee will publish ‘We’re going to need a bigger Navy’. The report follows the Committee’s inquiry on The Navy: purpose and procurement. The inquiry set out to examine what role the Navy should expect to play in the next 20 years and whether naval procurement and support plans are delivering the capabilities required. The Committee sought to assess the threats and standing commitment facing the Navy, as well as specific issues in equipment and programmes that pose a risk to the Navy’s ability to deliver planned capabilities and possibly threaten the Navy’s overall effectiveness.
09 Dec 21. MPs hear from British Astronaut Major Tim Peake on Space Defence. On 14 December, at 14.30, the Defence Committee will hear from British Astronaut Major Tim Peake, and US space defence policy expert Justin T. Johnson, as its inquiry on Space Defence continues.
The session will hear from the two witnesses separately, beginning with Major Peake. MPs are likely to seek his views around the UK space sector, including on the UK Government’s National Space Strategy and addressing skills gaps in the workforce; and will also explore the implications of the increasing militarisation of space for attempts to promote international co-operation and establish a consensus on norms and behaviours in the domain.
The Committee is likely to ask Mr Johnson to provide the US perspective on space defence, including the current threat landscape, strategies for deepened co-operation between allies, and lessons for the UK from the establishment of the United States Space Force.
Following his 17-year service in the British Army Air Corps, Major Peake was the first British astronaut of the European Space Agency (ESA) to visit the International Space Station. He works with the United Kingdom Space Agency (UKSA) and the UK Government on their space, education and outreach programmes.
Justin T. Johnson is Senior Vice President and Deputy Head of Strategy at aerospace company Meta Aerospace in Washington. He previously served in the Pentagon where he performed the duties of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy and was Deputy Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Defense.
14.30, 14 December:
- Major Tim Peake CMG, Astronaut, European Space Agency (ESA)
15.30, 14 December
- Justin T. Johnson, Senior Vice President, Meta Aerospace
House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
LE TacCIS Programme: Contracts
Question for Ministry of Defence
Question
Mr Mark Francois
Conservative
Rayleigh and Wickford
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what deliverables have been received by his Department from contractors in relation to Project Morpheus as of 2 December 2021.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on 8 December 2021
The assessment phase has matured the MORPHEUS Evolving to Open design and architecture, and specific MORPHEUS deliverables include a Joint Programme Office, a Test and Reference Centre, Target Architecture and an Installation Design and Certification project. Progress on MORPHEUS Evolve to Open Assessment Phase has fallen considerably short of what was anticipated. The Department is reviewing next steps on how best to achieve our objectives on MORPHEUS.
LE TacCIS Programme: Expenditure
Question for Ministry of Defence
Question
Mr Mark Francois
Conservative
Rayleigh and Wickford
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total expenditure on (a) Le TACSIS and (b) the associated Project Morpheus is as of 2 December 2021.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on 8 December 2021
As at 30 Nov 21, the total expenditure on the Land Environmental Tactical Communication and Information System (LETacCIS) is £1.536 billion of which Project MORPHEUS represents £572 m.
LE TacCIS Programme: Military Vehicles
Question for Ministry of Defence
Question
Mr Mark Francois
Conservative
Rayleigh and Wickford
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which vehicles in the British Army’s vehicle fleet the Army plans to (a) fit or (b) upgraded with the Morpheus communications system.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on 8 December 2021
The Ministry of Defence is planning to resource all of those vehicles in the new ‘Future Soldier’ Army structure announced last week which require tactical communications capability with MORPHEUS.
BOWMAN Combat Radio System
Question for Ministry of Defence
Question
Mr Mark Francois
Conservative
Rayleigh and Wickford
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to begin withdrawing the Bowman communications system from service; and which system his Department plans to replace the Bowman system with.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on 8 December 2021
The out of service date for Bowman ComBAT Infrastructure and Platform (BCIP) 5.6 is currently 2025-26. Defence is working through Morpheus to identify and implement the range of systems we will require to replace Bowman.
Defence: Procurement
Question for Ministry of Defence
Question
Mr Mark Francois
Conservative
Rayleigh and Wickford
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to publish the conclusions of his Department’s Approach to Investment Decisions project; and if he will make a statement.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on
8 December 2021
The key recommendations of Project MAID (MOD’s Approach to Investment Decisions) were implemented in 2020 with the transition to a three-step approvals process and the introduction of the Strategic Outline Case, bringing MOD in line with wider Government practice. This is now reflected in both the Department’s internal policy and in guidance available externally through the Knowledge in Defence portal.
Defence: Procurement
Question for Ministry of Defence
Question
Mr Mark Francois
Conservative
Rayleigh and Wickford
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the status of (a) his Department’s Approach to Investment Decisions project and (b) the associated Acquisition Review is as of 2 December 2021.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on 8 December 2021
The key recommendations of Project MAID (MOD’s Approach to Investment Decisions) were implemented in 2020 with the transition to a three-step approvals process and the introduction of the Strategic Outline Case, bringing MOD in line with wider Government practice. Given their common themes, implementation of the remaining Project MAID recommendations, and those arising from the internal review of the Department’s acquisition system, have been taken forward through the Acquisition and Approvals Transformation Portfolio.
Defence Equipment and Support: Public Appointments
Question for Ministry of Defence
Question
Mr Mark Francois
Conservative
Rayleigh and Wickford
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the contract for the Head of Defence Equipment and Support expires.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on 8 December 2021
The employment contract for the Chief Executive Officer of Defence Equipment and Support is due to end in May 2022.
Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft: Accidents
Question for Ministry of Defence
Question
Chris Evans
Labour
Islwyn
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the safety of the F-35 fleet following a crash off the HMS Queen Elizabeth.
Answer
James Heappey
Conservative
Wells
Commons
Answered on 8 December 2021
The Aviation Duty Holders for Lightning have reviewed the initial and emerging evidence following the crash of the F-35B Lightning from HMS Queen Elizabeth and remain satisfied that Risks to Life remain Tolerable and As Low As Reasonably Practicable. A Service Inquiry has been convened and it will be inappropriate to comment on the nature of that evidence while the Inquiry continues. However, if any new safety critical evidence emerges during the Inquiry process this will be considered further by the Aviation Duty Holders.
Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft: Accidents
Question for Ministry of Defence
Question
Chris Evans
Labour
Islwyn
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has been made of the risk to flight crew following the crash of an F-35 from the HMS Queen Elizabeth.
Answer
James Heappey
Conservative
Wells
Commons
Answered on 8 December 2021
The Aviation Duty Holders for Lightning have reviewed the initial and emerging evidence following the crash of the F-35B Lightning from HMS Queen Elizabeth and remain satisfied that Risks to Life remain Tolerable and As Low As Reasonably Practicable. A Service Inquiry has been convened and it will be inappropriate to comment on the nature of that evidence while the Inquiry continues. However, if any new safety critical evidence emerges during the Inquiry process this will be considered further by the Aviation Duty Holders.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Peacekeeping Operations
Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Question
Catherine West
Labour
Hornsey and Wood Green
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Defence and (b) NATO partners on contingency plans to support EUFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Answer
Wendy Morton
Conservative
Aldridge-Brownhills
Commons
Answered on 7 December 2021
In November 2021, the United Nations Security Council authorised the EU stabilisation force’s (EUFOR) mandate for a further 12 months. Although the UK no longer participates in EUFOR following our withdrawal from the European Union, we liaise closely with Commander EUFOR and his team. We also support the NATO headquarters in Sarajevo including though the secondment of UK staff officers, who are playing an important role in building the capacity of the Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Armed Forces. Further discussions of how to support stability in BiH took place at the NATO Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Riga, which the Foreign Secretary attended.
LE TacCIS Programme
Question for Ministry of Defence
Question
Mr Mark Francois
Conservative
Rayleigh and Wickford
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many units of the Morpheus communications system he plans to order for (a) the British Army, (b) the Royal Navy and Royal Marines and (c) the Royal Air Force.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on 7 December 2021
The MORPHEUS system is not procured as units but instead as a system (comprising hundreds of items). It is planned to resource all of those elements of the Navy, Army and Air Force operating in the Land tactical environment and which have related requirements.