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Defence: Procurement

Asked by Ben Obese-JectyConservativeMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 8 September 2026UIN 23237

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row 158 entitled E7 Wedgetail in the spreadsheet accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority's document entitled NISTA Major Projects Annual Report 2025-26, published on 13 July 2026, if he will set out the issues with contractor performance that have caused delays to the programme.

Answered by Ministry of Defence

The prime contractor took on a contract to deliver a capability in a timescale that it has been unable meet. Equipment re-design and re-certification, compounded by supply-chain disruption following the COVID pandemic, have all contributed to delays to the programme.

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