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Unmanned Air Systems: Procurement

Asked by Ben Obese-JectyConservativeMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 12 February 2026UIN 110956

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information his Department holds on the full scope of Project Lily.

Answered by Luke Pollard

The full scope of Project Lily was to include the procurement of a single, contractor supported, commercial off-the-shelf uncrewed surface vessel and a remote operations centre for year-round, global, open ocean operations. The uncrewed surface vessel was for military data gathering and was to include a two-year period of Government owned, commercially operated support before transitioning to a Government owned, Government operated solution with commercial support.

This project was cancelled following a decision to consider alternative internal options to meet this requirement. Should any future procurement be required, details of the opportunity will be published in the usual way via the Defence Sourcing Portal.

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