diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/pages/projects/settings/repository/show/index.js b/app/assets/javascripts/pages/projects/settings/repository/show/index.js
index 655243eee30..d2263fa815d 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/pages/projects/settings/repository/show/index.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/pages/projects/settings/repository/show/index.js
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import MirrorRepos from '~/mirrors/mirror_repos';
 import mountBranchRules from '~/projects/settings/repository/branch_rules/mount_branch_rules';
+import mountDefaultBranchSelector from '~/projects/settings/mount_default_branch_selector';
+
 import initForm from '../form';
 
 initForm();
@@ -8,3 +10,4 @@ const mirrorReposContainer = document.querySelector('.js-mirror-settings');
 if (mirrorReposContainer) new MirrorRepos(mirrorReposContainer).init();
 
 mountBranchRules(document.getElementById('js-branch-rules'));
+mountDefaultBranchSelector(document.querySelector('.js-select-default-branch'));
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/projects/settings/components/default_branch_selector.vue b/app/assets/javascripts/projects/settings/components/default_branch_selector.vue
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..fee2f591216
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/projects/settings/components/default_branch_selector.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+<script>
+import RefSelector from '~/ref/components/ref_selector.vue';
+import { REF_TYPE_BRANCHES } from '~/ref/constants';
+import { __ } from '~/locale';
+
+export default {
+  components: {
+    RefSelector,
+  },
+  props: {
+    persistedDefaultBranch: {
+      type: String,
+      required: true,
+    },
+    projectId: {
+      type: String,
+      required: true,
+    },
+  },
+  refTypes: [REF_TYPE_BRANCHES],
+  i18n: {
+    dropdownHeader: __('Select default branch'),
+    searchPlaceholder: __('Search branch'),
+  },
+};
+</script>
+<template>
+  <ref-selector
+    :value="persistedDefaultBranch"
+    class="gl-w-full"
+    :project-id="projectId"
+    :enabled-ref-types="$options.refTypes"
+    :translations="$options.i18n"
+    name="project[default_branch]"
+    data-testid="default-branch-dropdown"
+    data-qa-selector="default_branch_dropdown"
+  />
+</template>
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/projects/settings/mount_default_branch_selector.js b/app/assets/javascripts/projects/settings/mount_default_branch_selector.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..611561e38f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/projects/settings/mount_default_branch_selector.js
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+import Vue from 'vue';
+import DefaultBranchSelector from './components/default_branch_selector.vue';
+
+export default (el) => {
+  if (!el) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  const { projectId, defaultBranch } = el.dataset;
+
+  return new Vue({
+    el,
+    render(createElement) {
+      return createElement(DefaultBranchSelector, {
+        props: {
+          persistedDefaultBranch: defaultBranch,
+          projectId,
+        },
+      });
+    },
+  });
+};
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/ref/components/ref_selector.vue b/app/assets/javascripts/ref/components/ref_selector.vue
index 1343ad8246c..b75958e2ced 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/ref/components/ref_selector.vue
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/ref/components/ref_selector.vue
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ export default {
     GlLoadingIcon,
     RefResultsSection,
   },
+  inheritAttrs: false,
   props: {
     enabledRefTypes: {
       type: Array,
@@ -70,6 +71,15 @@ export default {
       required: false,
       default: true,
     },
+
+    /* Underlying form field name for scenarios where ref_selector
+     * is used as part of submitting an HTML form
+     */
+    name: {
+      type: String,
+      required: false,
+      default: '',
+    },
   },
   data() {
     return {
@@ -213,89 +223,103 @@ export default {
 </script>
 
 <template>
-  <gl-dropdown
-    :header-text="i18n.dropdownHeader"
-    :toggle-class="toggleButtonClass"
-    :text="buttonText"
-    class="ref-selector"
-    v-bind="$attrs"
-    v-on="$listeners"
-    @shown="focusSearchBox"
-  >
-    <template #header>
-      <gl-search-box-by-type
-        ref="searchBox"
-        v-model.trim="query"
-        :placeholder="i18n.searchPlaceholder"
-        autocomplete="off"
-        @input="onSearchBoxInput"
-        @keydown.enter.prevent="onSearchBoxEnter"
-      />
-    </template>
+  <div>
+    <gl-dropdown
+      :header-text="i18n.dropdownHeader"
+      :toggle-class="toggleButtonClass"
+      :text="buttonText"
+      class="ref-selector gl-w-full"
+      v-bind="$attrs"
+      v-on="$listeners"
+      @shown="focusSearchBox"
+    >
+      <template #header>
+        <gl-search-box-by-type
+          ref="searchBox"
+          v-model.trim="query"
+          :placeholder="i18n.searchPlaceholder"
+          autocomplete="off"
+          data-qa-selector="ref_selector_searchbox"
+          @input="onSearchBoxInput"
+          @keydown.enter.prevent="onSearchBoxEnter"
+        />
+      </template>
 
-    <gl-loading-icon v-if="isLoading" size="lg" class="gl-my-3" />
+      <gl-loading-icon v-if="isLoading" size="lg" class="gl-my-3" />
 
-    <div v-else-if="showNoResults" class="gl-text-center gl-mx-3 gl-py-3" data-testid="no-results">
-      <gl-sprintf v-if="lastQuery" :message="i18n.noResultsWithQuery">
-        <template #query>
-          <b class="gl-word-break-all">{{ lastQuery }}</b>
+      <div
+        v-else-if="showNoResults"
+        class="gl-text-center gl-mx-3 gl-py-3"
+        data-testid="no-results"
+      >
+        <gl-sprintf v-if="lastQuery" :message="i18n.noResultsWithQuery">
+          <template #query>
+            <b class="gl-word-break-all">{{ lastQuery }}</b>
+          </template>
+        </gl-sprintf>
+
+        <span v-else>{{ i18n.noResults }}</span>
+      </div>
+
+      <template v-else>
+        <template v-if="showBranchesSection">
+          <ref-results-section
+            :section-title="i18n.branches"
+            :total-count="matches.branches.totalCount"
+            :items="matches.branches.list"
+            :selected-ref="selectedRef"
+            :error="matches.branches.error"
+            :error-message="i18n.branchesErrorMessage"
+            :show-header="showSectionHeaders"
+            data-testid="branches-section"
+            data-qa-selector="branches_section"
+            @selected="selectRef($event)"
+          />
+
+          <gl-dropdown-divider v-if="showTagsSection || showCommitsSection" />
         </template>
-      </gl-sprintf>
 
-      <span v-else>{{ i18n.noResults }}</span>
-    </div>
+        <template v-if="showTagsSection">
+          <ref-results-section
+            :section-title="i18n.tags"
+            :total-count="matches.tags.totalCount"
+            :items="matches.tags.list"
+            :selected-ref="selectedRef"
+            :error="matches.tags.error"
+            :error-message="i18n.tagsErrorMessage"
+            :show-header="showSectionHeaders"
+            data-testid="tags-section"
+            @selected="selectRef($event)"
+          />
 
-    <template v-else>
-      <template v-if="showBranchesSection">
-        <ref-results-section
-          :section-title="i18n.branches"
-          :total-count="matches.branches.totalCount"
-          :items="matches.branches.list"
-          :selected-ref="selectedRef"
-          :error="matches.branches.error"
-          :error-message="i18n.branchesErrorMessage"
-          :show-header="showSectionHeaders"
-          data-testid="branches-section"
-          data-qa-selector="branches_section"
-          @selected="selectRef($event)"
-        />
+          <gl-dropdown-divider v-if="showCommitsSection" />
+        </template>
 
-        <gl-dropdown-divider v-if="showTagsSection || showCommitsSection" />
+        <template v-if="showCommitsSection">
+          <ref-results-section
+            :section-title="i18n.commits"
+            :total-count="matches.commits.totalCount"
+            :items="matches.commits.list"
+            :selected-ref="selectedRef"
+            :error="matches.commits.error"
+            :error-message="i18n.commitsErrorMessage"
+            :show-header="showSectionHeaders"
+            data-testid="commits-section"
+            @selected="selectRef($event)"
+          />
+        </template>
       </template>
 
-      <template v-if="showTagsSection">
-        <ref-results-section
-          :section-title="i18n.tags"
-          :total-count="matches.tags.totalCount"
-          :items="matches.tags.list"
-          :selected-ref="selectedRef"
-          :error="matches.tags.error"
-          :error-message="i18n.tagsErrorMessage"
-          :show-header="showSectionHeaders"
-          data-testid="tags-section"
-          @selected="selectRef($event)"
-        />
-
-        <gl-dropdown-divider v-if="showCommitsSection" />
+      <template #footer>
+        <slot name="footer" v-bind="footerSlotProps"></slot>
       </template>
-
-      <template v-if="showCommitsSection">
-        <ref-results-section
-          :section-title="i18n.commits"
-          :total-count="matches.commits.totalCount"
-          :items="matches.commits.list"
-          :selected-ref="selectedRef"
-          :error="matches.commits.error"
-          :error-message="i18n.commitsErrorMessage"
-          :show-header="showSectionHeaders"
-          data-testid="commits-section"
-          @selected="selectRef($event)"
-        />
-      </template>
-    </template>
-
-    <template #footer>
-      <slot name="footer" v-bind="footerSlotProps"></slot>
-    </template>
-  </gl-dropdown>
+    </gl-dropdown>
+    <input
+      v-if="name"
+      data-testid="selected-ref-form-field"
+      type="hidden"
+      :value="selectedRef"
+      :name="name"
+    />
+  </div>
 </template>
diff --git a/app/views/projects/default_branch/_show.html.haml b/app/views/projects/default_branch/_show.html.haml
index eba0f336f80..23b46e02202 100644
--- a/app/views/projects/default_branch/_show.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/projects/default_branch/_show.html.haml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
         - else
           .form-group
             = f.label :default_branch, _("Default branch"), class: 'label-bold'
-            = f.select(:default_branch, @project.repository.branch_names, {}, {class: 'select2 select-wide', data: { qa_selector: 'default_branch_dropdown' }})
+            .js-select-default-branch{ data: { default_branch: @project.default_branch, project_id: @project.id } }
 
         .form-group
           - help_text = _("When merge requests and commits in the default branch close, any issues they reference also close.")
diff --git a/doc/development/database/batched_background_migrations.md b/doc/development/database/batched_background_migrations.md
index 947e92bf83f..9730d767eed 100644
--- a/doc/development/database/batched_background_migrations.md
+++ b/doc/development/database/batched_background_migrations.md
@@ -545,7 +545,9 @@ To list the batched background migrations in the system, run this command:
 This command supports the following options:
 
 - Database selection:
-  - `--database DATABASE_NAME`: Connects to the given database.
+  - `--database DATABASE_NAME`: Connects to the given database:
+    - `main`: Uses the main database (default).
+    - `ci`: Uses the CI database.
 - Environment selection:
   - `--dev`: Uses the `dev` environment.
   - `--staging`: Uses the `staging` environment.
@@ -568,7 +570,9 @@ To see the status and progress of a specific batched background migration, run t
 This command supports the following options:
 
 - Database selection:
-  - `--database DATABASE_NAME`: Connects to the given database.
+  - `--database DATABASE_NAME`: Connects to the given database:
+    - `main`: Uses the main database (default)
+    - `ci`: Uses the CI database
 - Environment selection:
   - `--dev`: Uses the `dev` environment.
   - `--staging`: Uses the `staging` environment.
@@ -600,7 +604,9 @@ If you want to pause a batched background migration, you need to run the followi
 This command supports the following options:
 
 - Database selection:
-  - `--database DATABASE_NAME`: Connects to the given database.
+  - `--database DATABASE_NAME`: Connects to the given database:
+    - `main`: Uses the main database (default).
+    - `ci`: Uses the CI database.
 - Environment selection:
   - `--dev`: Uses the `dev` environment.
   - `--staging`: Uses the `staging` environment.
@@ -623,7 +629,9 @@ If you want to resume a batched background migration, you need to run the follow
 This command supports the following options:
 
 - Database selection:
-  - `--database DATABASE_NAME`: Connects to the given database.
+  - `--database DATABASE_NAME`: Connects to the given database:
+    - `main`: Uses the main database (default).
+    - `ci`: Uses the CI database.
 - Environment selection:
   - `--dev`: Uses the `dev` environment.
   - `--staging`: Uses the `staging` environment.
diff --git a/doc/user/application_security/terminology/index.md b/doc/user/application_security/terminology/index.md
index c5cc59805eb..2215c89aa4f 100644
--- a/doc/user/application_security/terminology/index.md
+++ b/doc/user/application_security/terminology/index.md
@@ -5,16 +5,17 @@ info: To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated w
 type: reference
 ---
 
-# Secure and Protect terminology **(FREE)**
+# Secure and Govern terminology **(FREE)**
 
-This terminology list for GitLab Secure and Protect aims to:
+The glossary of terms aims to achieve the following:
 
-- Promote a ubiquitous language for discussing application security.
-- Improve the effectiveness of communication regarding GitLab application security features.
-- Get new contributors up to speed faster.
+- Promote a ubiquitous language that can be used everywhere - with customers, on issues, in Slack, in code.
+- Improve the effectiveness of communication between team members.
+- Reduce the potential for miscommunication.
+- Bring new team members and community contributors up to speed faster, reducing the time to productivity.
 
-This document defines application security terms in the specific context of GitLab Secure and
-Protect features. Terms may therefore have different meanings outside that context.
+The definitions of the terms outlined in this document are in the context of the GitLab
+products. Therefore, a term may have a different meaning to users outside of GitLab.
 
 ## Terms
 
@@ -28,9 +29,7 @@ an artifact after the job is complete. GitLab ingests this report, allowing user
 manage found vulnerabilities. For more information, see [Security Scanner Integration](../../../development/integrations/secure.md).
 
 Many GitLab analyzers follow a standard approach using Docker to run a wrapped scanner. For example,
-the Docker image `bandit-sast` is an analyzer that wraps the scanner `Bandit`. You can optionally
-use the [Common library](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/security-products/analyzers/common)
-to assist in building an Analyzer.
+the image `semgrep` is an analyzer that wraps the scanner `Semgrep`.
 
 ### Attack surface
 
@@ -44,6 +43,12 @@ The set of meaningful test cases that are generated while the fuzzer is running.
 test case produces new coverage in the tested program. It's advised to re-use the corpus and pass it
 to subsequent runs.
 
+### CNA
+
+[CVE](#cve) Numbering Authorities (CNAs) are organizations from around the world that are authorized by
+the [Mitre Corporation](https://cve.mitre.org/) to assign [CVE](#cve)s to vulnerabilities in products or
+services within their respective scope. [GitLab is a CNA](https://about.gitlab.com/security/cve/).
+
 ### CVE
 
 Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE®) is a list of common identifiers for publicly known
@@ -63,6 +68,11 @@ architecture. If left unaddressed, weaknesses could result in systems, networks,
 vulnerable to attack. The CWE List and associated classification taxonomy serve as a language that
 you can use to identify and describe these weaknesses in terms of CWEs.
 
+### Deduplication
+
+When a category's process deems findings to be the same, or if they are similar enough that a noise reduction is
+required, only one finding is kept and the others are eliminated. Read more about the [deduplication process](../vulnerability_report/pipeline.md#deduplication-process).
+
 ### Duplicate finding
 
 A legitimate finding that is reported multiple times. This can occur when different scanners
@@ -86,6 +96,13 @@ applications, and infrastructure.
 
 Findings are all potential vulnerability items scanners identify in MRs/feature branches. Only after merging to default does a finding become a [vulnerability](#vulnerability).
 
+### Grouping
+
+A flexible and non-destructive way to visually organize vulnerabilities in groups when there are multiple findings
+that are likely related but do not qualify for deduplication. For example, you can include findings that should be
+evaluated together, would be fixed by the same action, or come from the same source. Grouping behavior for vulnerabilities is 
+under development and tracked in issue [267588](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/267588).
+
 ### Insignificant finding
 
 A legitimate finding that a particular customer doesn't care about.
@@ -93,16 +110,18 @@ A legitimate finding that a particular customer doesn't care about.
 ### Location fingerprint
 
 A finding's location fingerprint is a text value that's unique for each location on the attack
-surface. Each Secure product defines this according to its type of attack surface. For example, SAST
+surface. Each security product defines this according to its type of attack surface. For example, SAST
 incorporates file path and line number.
 
-### Package managers
+### Package managers and package types
 
-A Package manager is a system that manages your project dependencies.
+#### Package managers
+
+A package manager is a system that manages your project dependencies.
 
 The package manager provides a method to install new dependencies (also referred to as "packages"), manage where packages are stored on your file system, and offer capabilities for you to publish your own packages.
 
-### Package types
+#### Package types
 
 Each package manager, platform, type, or ecosystem has its own conventions and protocols to identify, locate, and provision software packages.
 
@@ -200,9 +219,26 @@ table.package-managers-and-types ul {
 
 A page that displays findings discovered in the associated CI pipeline.
 
+### Post-filter
+
+Post-filters help reduce noise in the scanner results and automate manual tasks. You can specify criteria that updates
+or modifies vulnerability data based on scanner results. For example, you can flag findings as likely False Positives
+and automatically resolve vulnerabilities that are no longer detected. These are not permanent actions and can be changed.
+
+Support for automatically resolving findings is tracked in epic [7478](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/epics/7478) and
+support for cheap scan is proposed in issue [349926](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/349926).
+
+### Pre-filter
+
+An irreversible action that is done to filter out target(s) before analysis occurs. This is usually provided to allow
+the user to reduce scope and noise as well as speed up the analysis. This should not be done if a record is needed as
+we currently do not store anything related to the skipped/excluded code or assets.
+
+Examples: `DS_EXCLUDED_PATHS` should `Exclude files and directories from the scan based on the paths provided.`
+
 ### Primary identifier
 
-A finding's primary identifier is a value unique to that finding. The external type and external ID
+A finding's primary identifier is a value that is unique to each finding. The external type and external ID
 of the finding's [first identifier](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/security-products/security-report-schemas/-/blob/v2.4.0-rc1/dist/sast-report-format.json#L228)
 combine to create the value.
 
@@ -218,15 +254,19 @@ once it's imported into the database.
 
 ### Scan type (report type)
 
-The type of scan. This must be one of the following:
+Describes the type of scan. This must be one of the following:
 
+- `api_fuzzing`
 - `cluster_image_scanning`
 - `container_scanning`
+- `coverage_fuzzing`
 - `dast`
 - `dependency_scanning`
 - `sast`
 - `secret_detection`
 
+This list is subject to change as scanners are added.
+
 ### Scanner
 
 Software that can scan for vulnerabilities. The resulting scan report is typically not in the
@@ -235,9 +275,12 @@ Software that can scan for vulnerabilities. The resulting scan report is typical
 ### Secure product
 
 A group of features related to a specific area of application security with first-class support by
-GitLab. Products include Container Scanning, Dependency Scanning, Dynamic Application Security
-Testing (DAST), Secret Detection, Static Application Security Testing (SAST), and Fuzz Testing. Each
-of these products typically include one or more analyzers.
+GitLab.
+
+Products include Container Scanning, Dependency Scanning, Dynamic Application Security
+Testing (DAST), Secret Detection, Static Application Security Testing (SAST), and Fuzz Testing.
+
+Each of these products typically include one or more analyzers.
 
 ### Secure report format
 
@@ -267,6 +310,7 @@ is listed as GitLab.
 
 A flaw that has a negative impact on the security of its environment. Vulnerabilities describe the
 error or weakness, and don't describe where the error is located (see [finding](#finding)).
+
 Each vulnerability maps to a unique finding.
 
 Vulnerabilities exist in the default branch. Findings (see [finding](#finding)) are all potential vulnerability items scanners identify in MRs/feature branches. Only after merging to default does a finding become a vulnerability.
@@ -280,8 +324,9 @@ When a [report finding](#report-finding) is stored to the database, it becomes a
 
 Deals with the responsibility of matching findings across scans so that a finding's life cycle can
 be understood. Engineers and security teams use this information to decide whether to merge code
-changes, and to see unresolved findings and when they were introduced. Vulnerabilities are tracked
-by comparing the location fingerprint, primary identifier, and report type.
+changes, and to see unresolved findings and when they were introduced.
+
+Vulnerabilities are tracked by comparing the location fingerprint, primary identifier, and report type.
 
 ### Vulnerability occurrence
 
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/ci/templates/Jobs/DAST-Default-Branch-Deploy.gitlab-ci.yml b/lib/gitlab/ci/templates/Jobs/DAST-Default-Branch-Deploy.gitlab-ci.yml
index 46aac3ee119..aba971a1abb 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/ci/templates/Jobs/DAST-Default-Branch-Deploy.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/lib/gitlab/ci/templates/Jobs/DAST-Default-Branch-Deploy.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 variables:
-  DAST_AUTO_DEPLOY_IMAGE_VERSION: 'v2.38.0'
+  DAST_AUTO_DEPLOY_IMAGE_VERSION: 'v2.38.1'
 
 .dast-auto-deploy:
   image: "${CI_TEMPLATE_REGISTRY_HOST}/gitlab-org/cluster-integration/auto-deploy-image:${DAST_AUTO_DEPLOY_IMAGE_VERSION}"
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/ci/templates/Jobs/Deploy.gitlab-ci.yml b/lib/gitlab/ci/templates/Jobs/Deploy.gitlab-ci.yml
index 54d2a8b6b7b..e59dc88aeb9 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/ci/templates/Jobs/Deploy.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/lib/gitlab/ci/templates/Jobs/Deploy.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 variables:
-  AUTO_DEPLOY_IMAGE_VERSION: 'v2.38.0'
+  AUTO_DEPLOY_IMAGE_VERSION: 'v2.38.1'
 
 .auto-deploy:
   image: "${CI_TEMPLATE_REGISTRY_HOST}/gitlab-org/cluster-integration/auto-deploy-image:${AUTO_DEPLOY_IMAGE_VERSION}"
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/ci/templates/Jobs/Deploy.latest.gitlab-ci.yml b/lib/gitlab/ci/templates/Jobs/Deploy.latest.gitlab-ci.yml
index 9802b667851..bf48db90bb1 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/ci/templates/Jobs/Deploy.latest.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/lib/gitlab/ci/templates/Jobs/Deploy.latest.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 variables:
-  AUTO_DEPLOY_IMAGE_VERSION: 'v2.38.0'
+  AUTO_DEPLOY_IMAGE_VERSION: 'v2.38.1'
 
 .auto-deploy:
   image: "${CI_TEMPLATE_REGISTRY_HOST}/gitlab-org/cluster-integration/auto-deploy-image:${AUTO_DEPLOY_IMAGE_VERSION}"
diff --git a/locale/gitlab.pot b/locale/gitlab.pot
index 39fc1672707..c6a314ff538 100644
--- a/locale/gitlab.pot
+++ b/locale/gitlab.pot
@@ -35291,6 +35291,9 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "Search authors"
 msgstr ""
 
+msgid "Search branch"
+msgstr ""
+
 msgid "Search branches"
 msgstr ""
 
@@ -36525,6 +36528,9 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "Select branches"
 msgstr ""
 
+msgid "Select default branch"
+msgstr ""
+
 msgid "Select due date"
 msgstr ""
 
diff --git a/qa/qa/page/project/settings/default_branch.rb b/qa/qa/page/project/settings/default_branch.rb
index cc28b37b88f..575f9006c84 100644
--- a/qa/qa/page/project/settings/default_branch.rb
+++ b/qa/qa/page/project/settings/default_branch.rb
@@ -5,16 +5,22 @@ module QA
     module Project
       module Settings
         class DefaultBranch < Page::Base
-          include Page::Component::Select2
-
           view 'app/views/projects/default_branch/_show.html.haml' do
             element :save_changes_button
+          end
+
+          view 'app/assets/javascripts/projects/settings/components/default_branch_selector.vue' do
             element :default_branch_dropdown
           end
 
+          view 'app/assets/javascripts/ref/components/ref_selector.vue' do
+            element :ref_selector_searchbox
+          end
+
           def set_default_branch(branch)
-            find('.select2-chosen').click
-            search_and_select(branch)
+            click_button :default_branch_dropdown
+            fill_in :ref_selector_searchbox, with: branch
+            click_button branch
           end
 
           def click_save_changes_button
diff --git a/spec/features/projects/settings/user_changes_default_branch_spec.rb b/spec/features/projects/settings/user_changes_default_branch_spec.rb
index 84e6c50cf61..508bbcc5327 100644
--- a/spec/features/projects/settings/user_changes_default_branch_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/features/projects/settings/user_changes_default_branch_spec.rb
@@ -3,8 +3,6 @@
 require 'spec_helper'
 
 RSpec.describe 'Projects > Settings > User changes default branch' do
-  include Select2Helper
-
   let(:user) { create(:user) }
 
   before do
@@ -17,16 +15,21 @@ RSpec.describe 'Projects > Settings > User changes default branch' do
     let(:project) { create(:project, :repository, namespace: user.namespace) }
 
     it 'allows to change the default branch', :js do
+      dropdown_selector = '[data-testid="default-branch-dropdown"]'
       # Otherwise, running JS may overwrite our change to project_default_branch
       wait_for_requests
 
-      select2('fix', from: '#project_default_branch')
+      expect(page).to have_selector(dropdown_selector)
+      find(dropdown_selector).click
+
+      fill_in 'Search branch', with: 'fix'
+      click_button 'fix'
 
       page.within '#default-branch-settings' do
         click_button 'Save changes'
       end
 
-      expect(find('#project_default_branch', visible: false).value).to eq 'fix'
+      expect(find("#{dropdown_selector} input", visible: false).value).to eq 'fix'
     end
   end
 
@@ -34,7 +37,7 @@ RSpec.describe 'Projects > Settings > User changes default branch' do
     let(:project) { create(:project_empty_repo, namespace: user.namespace) }
 
     it 'does not show default branch selector' do
-      expect(page).not_to have_selector('#project_default_branch')
+      expect(page).not_to have_selector('[data-testid="default-branch-dropdown"]')
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/frontend/projects/settings/components/default_branch_selector_spec.js b/spec/frontend/projects/settings/components/default_branch_selector_spec.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..94648d87524
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/frontend/projects/settings/components/default_branch_selector_spec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+import { shallowMount } from '@vue/test-utils';
+import DefaultBranchSelector from '~/projects/settings/components/default_branch_selector.vue';
+import RefSelector from '~/ref/components/ref_selector.vue';
+import { REF_TYPE_BRANCHES } from '~/ref/constants';
+
+describe('projects/settings/components/default_branch_selector', () => {
+  const persistedDefaultBranch = 'main';
+  const projectId = '123';
+  let wrapper;
+
+  const findRefSelector = () => wrapper.findComponent(RefSelector);
+
+  const buildWrapper = () => {
+    wrapper = shallowMount(DefaultBranchSelector, {
+      propsData: {
+        persistedDefaultBranch,
+        projectId,
+      },
+    });
+  };
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    wrapper.destroy();
+  });
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    buildWrapper();
+  });
+
+  it('displays a RefSelector component', () => {
+    expect(findRefSelector().props()).toEqual({
+      value: persistedDefaultBranch,
+      enabledRefTypes: [REF_TYPE_BRANCHES],
+      projectId,
+      state: true,
+      translations: {
+        dropdownHeader: expect.any(String),
+        searchPlaceholder: expect.any(String),
+      },
+      useSymbolicRefNames: false,
+      name: 'project[default_branch]',
+    });
+
+    expect(findRefSelector().classes()).toContain('gl-w-full');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/spec/frontend/ref/components/ref_selector_spec.js b/spec/frontend/ref/components/ref_selector_spec.js
index 6c5af5a2625..96601a729b2 100644
--- a/spec/frontend/ref/components/ref_selector_spec.js
+++ b/spec/frontend/ref/components/ref_selector_spec.js
@@ -109,6 +109,8 @@ describe('Ref selector component', () => {
   const findCommitDropdownItems = () => findCommitsSection().findAllComponents(GlDropdownItem);
   const findFirstCommitDropdownItem = () => findCommitDropdownItems().at(0);
 
+  const findHiddenInputField = () => wrapper.find('[data-testid="selected-ref-form-field"]');
+
   //
   // Expecters
   //
@@ -181,6 +183,24 @@ describe('Ref selector component', () => {
         expect(findLoadingIcon().exists()).toBe(false);
       });
     });
+
+    describe('when name property is provided', () => {
+      it('renders an forrm input hidden field', () => {
+        const name = 'default_tag';
+
+        createComponent({ propsData: { name } });
+
+        expect(findHiddenInputField().attributes().name).toBe(name);
+      });
+    });
+
+    describe('when name property is not provided', () => {
+      it('renders an forrm input hidden field', () => {
+        createComponent();
+
+        expect(findHiddenInputField().exists()).toBe(false);
+      });
+    });
   });
 
   describe('post-initialization behavior', () => {
@@ -194,7 +214,7 @@ describe('Ref selector component', () => {
       });
 
       it('adds the provided ID to the GlDropdown instance', () => {
-        expect(wrapper.attributes().id).toBe(id);
+        expect(wrapper.findComponent(GlDropdown).attributes().id).toBe(id);
       });
     });
 
@@ -202,7 +222,7 @@ describe('Ref selector component', () => {
       const preselectedRef = fixtures.branches[0].name;
 
       beforeEach(() => {
-        createComponent({ propsData: { value: preselectedRef } });
+        createComponent({ propsData: { value: preselectedRef, name: 'selectedRef' } });
 
         return waitForRequests();
       });
@@ -210,6 +230,10 @@ describe('Ref selector component', () => {
       it('renders the pre-selected ref name', () => {
         expect(findButtonContent().text()).toBe(preselectedRef);
       });
+
+      it('binds hidden input field to the pre-selected ref', () => {
+        expect(findHiddenInputField().attributes().value).toBe(preselectedRef);
+      });
     });
 
     describe('when the selected ref is updated by the parent component', () => {