• Defence Helicopter

  Crowsnest edges closer to assessment phase

  9th July 2013

  After a two-year delay in funding, the UK’s development of a new helicopter-based early warning radar system is gathering momentum – although critical capability gaps …

• Military Logistics

  UK Dstl contracts QinetiQ to manage weapons centre

  4th June 2013

  A four-year contract has been awarded to QinetiQ by the UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) for the management of research into complex weapons …

• Land Warfare

  QinetiQ introduces new low trajectory rocket radar

  9th April 2013

  QinetiQ has developed a new radar specifically designed to provide sufficient warning against short range, low trajectory rocket attacks. Called Alarm, the multiple array receiver …

• Defence Helicopter

  MoD enlists special effects team for CDAS flight trials

  27th March 2013

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has used special effects software from the film industry to complete recent flight trial tests of an integrated defensive …

• Land Warfare

  Roke wins soldier sensor research contract

  14th March 2013

  Roke Manor Research will lead a team of specialists to assess, mature and integrate innovative sensor technology for the dismounted close combat infantry soldier under …

• Defence Notes

  I/ITSEC 2012: UK extends DSALT contract

  6th December 2012

  QinetiQ used the I/ITSEC conference in Orlando, Florida, to announce that it has been awarded an 18-month extension to its Distributed Synthetic Air Land Training …

• Digital Battlespace

  CREST consortium to deliver UK CCCES programme

  3rd December 2012

  A new programme to investigate novel technologies and techniques in support of future UK defence electronic surveillance procurements is to be carried out by the …

• Military Logistics

  Saft joins BAE Systems' GCV team

  20th November 2012

  Saft has been awarded $1.3 million in new funding by BAE Systems to continue the development of a Lithium‐ion (Li‐ion) energy storage system for the …

• Defence Helicopter

  Eurocopter hands over first Puma Mk2 UK MoD

  13th September 2012

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has received the first Puma Mk2 helicopter, marking an important milestone in the Royal Air Force’s (RAF’s) upgrade programme. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Wildcats deploy into the field

  7th September 2012

  The British Army Air Corps has deployed its new AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat Mk1 helicopter into the field for the first time, paving the way for …

• Defence Helicopter

  PZL-Swidnik reveals optionally piloted version of the SW-4

  4th September 2012

  PZL-Świdnik has taken the covers off an optionally piloted version (OPV) of its SW-4 light helicopter at the MSPO event in Kielce, Poland on 3 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Qinetiq and MoD to develop UAV deployment centre

  17th July 2012

  Qinetiq and the UK MoD are working to establish the Unmanned Air Systems Capability Development Centre (UASCDC) to support the rapid development of UAS programmes …

• Land Warfare

  DefExpo 2012: Pointer weapon cueing system to be demonstrated in India

  30th March 2012

  The Pointer networked weapon cueing system is to be demonstrated to India’s security forces at the end of April.  Pointer was developed jointly by Qinetiq, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US prepares micro-UGVs for Afghanistan evaluation

  12th March 2012

  The US DoD will shortly deploy hundreds of ‘ultra-lightweight’ UGVs to Afghanistan ahead of a proposed procurement of some 5,000 systems later this year, sources …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUSA 2012: US Army fields Minotaur robotic mine clearance system

  24th February 2012

  The US Army Rapid Equipping Force (REF) used AUSA Winter 2012 to spotlight its exploration of several unmanned vehicle designs. One of the systems highlighted …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Project Vampire [UK]

  Programme Background Prior RN Tests Project Vampire began in 2021, before the January 2022 Phase 1 tender announcement. In September 2021, as part of Vampire, a Banshee ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) (Project Vanquish) [UK]

  Background Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) Strategy Reflecting on lessons learned from the cancellation of the Mosquito programme, the Royal Air Force (RAF) redefined the role ...

• Main battle tanks

  Future Ground Combat System MBT (UK)

  Programme Background The UK MoD is understood to be in the process of determining the capabilities of a notional next-generation armoured vehicle fleet that could ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Skeldar V-200 (ASW) [Canada]

  Programme Background Contract Award At Euronaval 2022, Shephard reported that UMS Skeldar and Ultra had been awarded a Phase 2 contract on 19 October to provide ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  Project Land 2097 Phase 4 [Australia]

  Programme Background According to the RfI, under Project Land 2097 Phase 4, the selected helicopter must comprise a commercial or military off-the-shelf solution that is ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Project Tiquila [UK]

  Programme Background Tender Notice On 18 September 2020, the MoD Combat Air Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) Team published a tender notice for a system integrator ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Global Combat Air Programme [UK]

  Programme Background The next-generation platform concept is part of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, which sought to deliver a Future Combat Air System ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) [USA]

  Programme Background US Army's Future Vertical Lift Programme The FLRAA is one of three strands of a broader army programme. The others are the Future ...

• Submarines nuclear, ballistic missile

  Dreadnought Class (Successor Programme) (1-4) [UK]

  Programme Background Requirements The Dreadnought-class, prior to being named in October 2016, was known as the Successor programme, which was approved by the government in May ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement The OMFV programme is the latest of several attempts to develop a Bradley replacement.  Designed to be capable of operating with or without ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Jackdaw

  At DSEI 2023, QinetiQ unveiled the Jackdaw, a low-cost, high-performance, attritable fixed-wing UAV. QinetiQ has stated it is designed for swarming and collaborative autonomous operations, including crewed-uncrewed teaming. The ...

• Air: aerial targets

  Delta B15

  The Delta B15 is a target drone developed by QinetiQ Germany and Rheinmetall. QinetiQ Germany showcased the drone in 2024, as part of the initial phase of ...

• Light UGVs

  SPUR

  The Squad Packable Utility Robot (SPUR) is QinitiQ's newest tactical land UGV. Designed to be backpackable, the drone can be deployed rapidly from its stowed state.  It ...

• Air: aerial targets

  Mosquito UHV-T

  The Mosquito UHV-T, manufactured by QinetiQ, is a cost-effective unmanned helicopter target designed primarily for military training exercises. It is powered by a two-cylinder, two-stroke 60hp engine. ...

• Air: aerial targets

  Vindicator II UAV-T

  QinietQ, the manufacturer of the Vindicator II UAV-T, describe it as a cost-effective, recoverable, remotely piloted, basic training target. It is designed to simulate the threat ...

• Sea: weapon training, Military - USVs

  Sprite

  The Sprite is a USV developed by QinetiQ and designed for live-fire training exercises. 

• Air: aerial targets, Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Banshee Jet 80+

  Released in 2018, the Banshee Jet 80+, also known as the MQM-185B, is an autonomous aerial target manufactured by QinetiQ Target Systems.  The Banshee target can simulate an ...

• Air: aerial targets

  Banshee Jet 40 / Jet 40+

  The Banshee Jet 40 and Jet 40+ are aerial target drones developed by QinetiQ.  Part of the Banshee series, transonic systems that travel at or faster ...

• Air: aerial targets, Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Banshee NG

  The Banshee Next Generation (NG) is an aerial target manufactured by QinetiQ. It offers interoperability with other Banshee series equipment, and a twin-gas turbine engine powers it, ...

• Air: mission management systems

  MissionGrid

  Hensoldt MissionGrid is a mission system that integrates radar and electro-optic sensors using a mission computer, mission management software and data links. The system is ...

• Air: aerial targets

  Banshee Jet 80

  Manufactured by QinetiQ Target Systems, the Banshee Jet 80 is an autonomous aerial target developed from previous versions.  It features a twin 40kg thrust gas turbine engine ...

• Sea: weapon training, Military - USVs

  Hammerhead USV-T

  Hammerhead USV-T is an expendable uncrewed surface vessel target designed for simulating a multi-vehicle swarm threat. It is developed by QinetiQ Target Systems.

• Uncrewed aerial systems engines

  WAE-342

  The WAE-342 is a twin-cylinder, two-stroke engine developed by QinetiQ Target Systems (formerly Meggitt Target Systems) for integration on unmanned systems. 

• Light UGVs

  Dragon Runner

  The Dragon Runner UGV, manufactured by QinitiQ, has two versions: the Dragon Runner 10 (DR10) and the slightly larger Dragon Runner 20 (DR20). All Dragon ...

• Air: aerial targets

  Banshee Whirlwind

  Originally made by Meggitt Target Systems, a company QinetiQ acquired in 2016, the Banshee is an aerial target and the first drone in the Banshee series.  ...