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Uncrewed Systems: Testing

Asked by James McMurdockIndependentMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 30 June 2026UIN 12341

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Ministry of Defence's press release entitled Europe's largest drone testing centre opens in Swindon to boost defence innovation, published on 12 June 2026, what estimate he has made of the reduction in the time taken to develop and field new uncrewed capabilities as a result of the facility.

Answered by Luke Pollard

Given the speed and variety of innovation in uncrewed systems technology, it is not possible to quantify the reduction in time taken to develop and field new uncrewed capabilities that the Uncrewed Systems Centre (USC) will enable. Nevertheless, by bringing together Defence, industry and academia, the USC will ensure that the development of new uncrewed capabilities matches the evolving threat landscape.

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