How is QinetiQ contributing to NATO’s operational readiness?

Image credit: NATO

Over the last year, this has included exercises such as Formidable Shield and Sharpshooter that utilise QinetiQ’s Banshee and Hammerhead aerial and surface targets. QinetiQ also supports vital NATO outreach to industry, through the NATO Industrial Advisory Group (NIAG) and contributed expertise to multinational research activities coordinated through the NATO Science and Technology Organisation (STO). In addition, Group CEO Steve Wadey is attending the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum in Ankara as part of the 2026 NATO Summit, demonstrating QinetiQ’s commitment to supporting the evolution of the Alliance at a time of almost unprecedented threat.

Formidable Shield: NATO in Action

One of the most visible examples of QinetiQ’s support to NATO in 2025 was Exercise Formidable Shield, Europe’s largest Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) exercise. Hosted at QinetiQ-operated MOD Hebrides range, under the Long Term Partnering Agreement (LTPA) with the UK Ministry Defence, the exercise brought together 10 NATO nations and Australia to demonstrate allied interoperability through a series of complex live-fire events against aerial and surface targets.

Supporting both the planning and delivery of the exercise, QinetiQ worked alongside U.S. Sixth Fleet and Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) to create realistic threat scenarios using the Banshee and Hammerhead aerial and surface targets. Plus, played a key role in analysing operational data gathered throughout the exercise to provide insights that help participating nations evaluate and enhance their defensive capabilities.

Sharpshooter: Delivering integrated training to NATO ally

QinetiQ’s contribution to NATO readiness is further demonstrated through Exercise Sharpshooter. Marking the first participation by a NATO ally, the 2025 exercise brought the Royal Netherlands Navy’s HNLMS Evertsen to MOD Aberporth, managed by QinetiQ under the LTPA, where over three days the ship faced a series of simulated drone swarm attacks using a blend of live and virtual threats. Scenarios incorporated QinetiQ’s Banshee Whirlwind aerial target and Hammerhead uncrewed surface vehicle, creating a realistic training environment.

Hosting UK Defence Officials and the NATO Industry Advisory Group at QinetiQ site

At Portsdown Technology Park (PTP), QinetiQ welcomed the NATO Industry Advisory Group (NIAG) last month, as part of the group's plenary programme, taking place in the UK for the first time this century. Bringing together senior defence leaders, government representatives, industry partners and SMEs, the visit showcased the role PTP plays within the wider defence ecosystem and its relevance to NATO, and QinetiQ’s Tom Page played an active role in enabling the visit to happen, acting as Deputy of the UK Delegation.

Discussions focused on how industry and government can work together to develop, exploit and share technology, knowledge and standards across the Alliance, helping to accelerate capability development, improve system integration and increase interoperability.

Contributing to NATO research activities

Through the NATO Science and Technology Organisation (STO) and its Modelling and Simulation Group (NMSG), QinetiQ experts contribute to multinational research activities that support interoperability, training and future capability development across the Alliance. This includes work on digital twins, human behaviour and decision-making within simulation environments, and the use of extended reality technologies for training and education.

This year marks the third consecutive year that one of our colleagues has been named a winner in the NATO STO Women and Girls in Science Challenge, Ana Cooke, demonstrating the talent across the business and how QinetiQ experts are developing innovative concepts to address complex defence and security challenges.

By helping NATO nations develop common approaches, standards and emerging technologies, QinetiQ is contributing to the capabilities that will help shape the Alliance's future operational effectiveness.

To summarise

From supporting major multinational exercises and providing realistic threat representation, to facilitating industry collaboration and contributing to research that informs future capability development, QinetiQ plays an important role in helping allied nations train, innovate and operate together.

Working alongside the UK Ministry of Defence, NATO organisations, international partners and industry, QinetiQ provides the expertise, environments and capabilities that help strengthen interoperability across the Alliance. Together, these activities support NATO's ability to respond to today's challenges while preparing for the threats of tomorrow.