QinetiQ supports MOD to integrate counter drone missiles to Typhoons used in the Middle East

The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), developed by BAE Systems, was trialled earlier this year at the MOD Aberporth range in west Wales, which is operated by QinetiQ under the Long Term Partnering Agreement.

QinetiQ supported the integration of the weapon with the Typhoon before the trials to prove the engineering had been successful, also creating a safety zone at the range and providing realistic targets for the Typhoon pilots to train against.

With a top speed of approximately 370km/h, the Banshee Whirlwind is one of QinetiQ’s Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) training targets, manufactured in Ashford, Kent and used by over 30 countries to represent aerial threats.

Steve Wadey, Group Chief Executive Officer, QinetiQ, said: “From engineering expertise to live trials, our teams are providing the fundamental support needed by our armed forces, to deliver the urgent capabilities that ensure the UK and its allies remain safe and warfighting ready.”

Supporting the integration of the APKWS weapon with the Typhoon was enabled via the QinetiQ-led long-term Engineering Delivery Partnership contract. Through EDP, QinetiQ delivers a broad range of specialist engineering services to the Ministry of Defence, that support the continued maintenance and development upgrades of the Typhoon fleet.