Material advances for QinetiQ

QinetiQ and the UK's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) have signed a renewed £10 million, five-year contract to develop advanced defence materials, it announced on 26 May.

The contract will see QinetiQ develop and test defence materials to protect subsea, maritime, air and land vehicles of the UK from next-generation threats. It comes under the Materials and Structures Technology (MAST) Science and Technology Centre (STC) and continues the use of research facilities that were established by QinetiQ using Dstl funding in 2012.

The contract allows QinetiQ to spin out non-classified intellectual property to the overseas and commercial markets. For example, the company recently advised the French government on whether its planned wind turbines would interfere with weather radar.

John Pearson, Dstl programme manager, said: 'As technology advances at an unprecedented rate and becomes more accessible to hostile states and groups, it is vital that the UK stays one step ahead. Our investment will preserve a unique capability of critical national importance, enabling the British armed forces to maintain their battle-winning edge.'

David Moore, director of research services, QinetiQ, said: 'The facilities and research funded under this contract place the UK at the cutting-edge of advanced materials technology. The investment not only maintains a crucial battlefield advantage, but opens up a commercial supply chain that supports UK jobs, businesses and academia. The result is a hotbed of innovation, adding value for the UK government with no additional burden on the taxpayer.'