The visit highlighted QinetiQ’s contribution to UK growth through investment, our role in supporting SMEs and highly skilled engineering, digital and advanced manufacturing employment - particularly in remote locations across the UK – and our enduring strategic partnership with the Ministry of Defence (MOD), through the Long Term Partnering Agreement (LTPA), which sees QinetiQ operate 16 MOD locations in England, Wales and Scotland, including MOD Boscombe Down, focused on delivering test and evaluation services to government and the armed forces.
The ministers met the Commanding Officer from ETPS, the world’s first test pilot school, which has provided world-leading training for flight test professionals for 83 years, before moving on to visit DroneWorks, a test capability to support getting Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS) and Counter UAS (C-UAS) into service at pace. Born out of the challenges seen in Ukraine, this initiative is delivered in partnership with the RAF’s Air and Space Warfare Centre.
The increasingly important role of additive manufacturing to solve lengthy supply chain issues was also discussed. QinetiQ’s role in rapidly designing new parts, produced via our SME supply chain in Australia, for Royal Navy attack submarine, HMS Anson’s recent historic visit to Australian waters a key example of the opportunity this technology has to solve operational challenges. Parts were delivered in just four weeks, much quicker than the months or years it usually takes.
The visit concluded at the construction of one of Europe’s largest test facilities, a new ‘silent hangar’ radio frequency, anti-jamming test facility, large enough to fit some of the military’s biggest assets, including F-35B Lightning stealth aircraft, Protector drones and Chinook helicopters.
This anechoic chamber test facility, which will simulate hostile environments to put advanced military equipment through its paces, is being built by QinetiQ via a £20 million contract and is due to open later this year.
02/07/2026
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