Defence Equipment: Procurement
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory’s press release entitled UK-first achieved in advanced materials to benefit defence, published on 10 March 2026, from which countries the United Kingdom has primarily previously sourced ultra-high-temperature materials prior to establishing domestic manufacturing capability.
Answered by Luke Pollard
Overseas supply of Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) is predominantly available from the USA and Japan, noting that other countries are also looking to develop commercial supply capabilities.
Overall, at the present stage of UK development of industrial capability for CMC manufacture the type and magnitude of exports for defence and civil applications is unknown. Export controls are already in place to protect high performing sovereign CMC materials.
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