Evolving Land Capability
The threat landscape is becoming increasingly complex and sophisticated. Land platforms must modernise in order to keep up with the changing nature of the battlefield and provide a strategic edge to allied forces.
Rotate the vehicle 360 degrees and select numbered areas to discover modernisation capabilities.
ENHANCED MOBILITY
Hybrid Electric Drive (HED) – enabling a step change in wheeled platform capability
There is mounting pressure on military forces to reduce greenhouse emissions and operate more sustainably. However this sustainability must not come at the cost of operational advantage, and the transition to a carbon neutral operating environment will ultimately signal result in the demise of the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE). Furthermore combat platforms are becoming ever more power hungry.
Land platform electrification is therefore essential and, when integrated as part of a hybrid or all-electric powertrain, QinetiQ’s Hub Drive Units (HDUs) enable:
- improved automotive performance
- fuel savings in the range of 10-30%
- extended silent watch and silent manoeuvre
- improved mobility and terrain access
- a dramatic increase in available electrical energy to meet growing power demands
QinetiQ has the technology and expertise to support the integration, demonstration and evaluation of wheeled and tracked electric drive technologies into for existing and new platforms. We have developed scalable, compact and efficient military specific HDUs to TRL 5 in conjunction with both the US DARPA and UK Dstl organisations, and acted as system integrator under contract with UK MoD under the Hybrid Electric Drive Evaluation Programme (HEDEP).
Ready for deployment: 2022 - 2026
More on vehicle driveImproved survivability
Vehicles must become stealthy to survive on today’s battlefield with ever more sophisticated threats.
Addressing the evolving stealth challenge is critical. To survive in today’s modern operational environments requires Land forces to be adept at cross-spectral camouflage and concealment, where cover and points of obscuration on the battlefield may not always be in immediate proximity.
Stealth is a complex challenge for armed forces to address. Multispectral stealth solutions enable:
- camouflage technology to remain undetected
- the ability to counter multiple threats simultaneously
- the ability to counter light, heat, sound, vibration and radio threats
- engine noise, track noise and exhaust noise reduction
- radio frequency shaping
QinetiQ has the scientific expertise to enable improved survivability with a through-life multispectral assessment of your platform to identify stealth vulnerabilities to sensor threats, evaluate the performance of existing or legacy stealth treatments, prevent avoidable risks, provide solution innovation and experimentation and more, all in one-place.
Ready for deployment: 2021 – 2025
More on stealthINCREASED AUTONOMY
Autonomy is key to unlocking new concepts of operation and increasing operational advantage.
Robotic systems are particularly crucial when carrying out hazardous or otherwise labour intensive tasks. Applications include last mile resupply, reconnaissance, bomb disposal and fire support (with a human in the loop). While these systems can work alone through autonomy, they can also be used in combination with crewed platforms, as a robotic ‘wingman’, which greatly increases combat mass and adaptability. However, autonomy isn’t just about new robotics platforms – autonomous software also plays a key part.
Adopting autonomous systems and robotics enables:
- significant operational advantage
- reduced risk to life, the creation of mass and increased mission tempo
- fast processing of data, displaying real-time information and reducing cognitive burden on the operator
- the augmentation of existing platforms to deliver greater functionality and response
QinetiQ has expertise in autonomous systems and robotics across the globe in the Land domain, alongside maritime and air domains, offering wide ranging capability with autonomy software and algorithms and mission system requirements. All of our technologies have been developed with scalability, security and certification in mind; reducing risk, creating mass and offering increased tempo – delivering and enabling advanced military capability and significant operational advantage.
Ready for deployment: 2025 – 2030
More on autonomy Autonomy reportEnhanced effectors
Directed energy systems have the potential to transform military approaches. Make the desirable practical through advanced power.
Laser directed energy weapons (LDEW) deliver highly focused energy for precision targeting. High-energy lasers (HEL) produce a narrow beam of intense light to direct and hit a target such as a UAV, being intense enough to burn the skin material to structurally compromise the target within seconds. HEL effectors also dazzle and damage optical sensors on targets, both from tens of kilometres distance.
Directed Energy enables:
- deep magazine powered entirely by electricity
- a speed of light attack providing operational advantage
- rapid retargeting – electronically steerable
- a smaller collateral damage footprint – no fragments or blast effects that could harm bystanders
QinetiQ provide innovative mission applicable Directed Energy solutions to address our customers’ key challenges and to close capability gaps. We have offerings in Directed Energy effector technology sub-systems; Directed Energy protection technologies and resilience, alongside solutions for training, simulation and experimentation with Directed Energy systems.
Ready for deployment: 2030 – 2035
More on direct energyImproved situational awareness
Platforms, sensors and systems producing actionable data enables faster, defined decisions for mission success.
Technology is constantly evolving around us, becoming increasingly sophisticated. Obtaining actionable data and having this delivered in real-time direct to land vehicles provides you with an information and operational advantage, enabling rapid decision analysis and faster responses.
Intelligent sensing enables:
- greater battlefield connectivity and awareness
- significant operational advantage
- pertinent analytics and information to stay ahead of adversaries
- C4 and ISR capability across the electromagnetic spectrum
QinetiQ has a long track record of expertise in the design, development, test and evaluation, integration and deployment of sensors across military applications, alongside software for sensor fusion and sensor system interoperability. Our solutions ensure the end-user is presented with pertinent information in real-time, enabling rapid analysis and decision making for an actionable response at speed.
Ready for deployment: 2030 – 2035
More on information advantageElectrified PLATFORms
Next generation power and energy technology will be critical for enabling future power demands throughout the battlespace.
As power demand increases, it must be serviced by reliable, secure energy storage and delivery. In a platform with hybrid electric drive, power can be supplied from the generator to anywhere on the vehicle, either directly or via battery storage. It can increase the available on-board power from tens of kilowatts to up to a megawatt.
Electrifying military platforms enables:
- improved mobility, durability and adaptability
- the reduction of fossil fuel dependency, minimising environmental impact
- cost saving, space and weight distribution advantages
- the potential reduction of fatalities as fuel supply is a battlefield target
- the ability to serve as part of a micro-grid to deliver power that can be used for other functionality
QinetiQ has the expertise in power and energy, leading in the research, development, prototyping, independent testing and trusted sourcing or supply of batteries, fuel cells, supercapacitors and the storage and generation of hydrogen. As battery technology advances rapidly, our technology and expertise ensures you have the advantage, providing power you can rely on with advanced performance and reliability for critical and hazardous environments.
Ready for deployment: 2021 – 2025
More on powerENHANCED MOBILITY
Hybrid Electric Drive (HED) – enabling a step change in tracked platform capability
There is mounting pressure on military forces to reduce greenhouse emissions and operate more sustainably. However this sustainability must not come at the cost of operational advantage, and the transition to a carbon neutral operating environment will ultimately signal result in the demise of the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE). Furthermore combat platforms are becoming ever more power hungry.
Land platform electrification is therefore essential and, when integrated as part of a hybrid or all-electric powertrain, QinetiQ’s E-X-Drive enables:
- improved automotive performance
- improved mobility
- fuel savings in the range of 10-20%
- a dramatic increase in available electrical energy to meet growing power demands
- flexible repackaging of the powertrain to enable volume and mass savings
QinetiQ has the technology and expertise to support the integration, demonstration and evaluation of wheeled and tracked electric drive technologies into for existing and new platforms. We have developed scalable, compact and efficient military specific E-X-Drives to TRL 7 in conjunction with the US DoD and BAE Systems on two occasions (FCS and GCV) and are currently under contract with BAE Systems and RCCTO to deliver the new Modular E-X-Drive (M-EXD) for integration into the Bradley Fighting Vehicle in 2022.
Ready for deployment: 2022 – 2026
More on vehicle driveImproved survivability
Vehicles must become stealthy to survive on today’s battlefield with ever more sophisticated threats.
Addressing the evolving stealth challenge is critical. To survive in today’s modern operational environments requires Land forces to be adept at cross-spectral camouflage and concealment, where cover and points of obscuration on the battlefield may not always be in immediate proximity.
Stealth is a complex challenge for armed forces to address. Multispectral stealth solutions enable:
- camouflage technology to remain undetected
- the ability to counter multiple threats simultaneously
- the ability to counter light, heat, sound, vibration and radio threats
- engine noise, track noise and exhaust noise reduction
- radio frequency shaping
QinetiQ has the scientific expertise to enable improved survivability with a through-life multispectral assessment of your platform to identify stealth vulnerabilities to sensor threats, evaluate the performance of existing or legacy stealth treatments, prevent avoidable risks, provide solution innovation and experimentation and more, all in one-place.
Ready for deployment: 2021 – 2025
More on stealthINCREASED AUTONOMY
Autonomy is key to unlocking new concepts of operation and increasing operational advantage.
Robotic systems are particularly crucial when carrying out hazardous or otherwise labour intensive tasks. Applications include last mile resupply, reconnaissance, bomb disposal and fire support (with a human in the loop). While these systems can work alone through autonomy, they can also be used in combination with crewed platforms, as a robotic ‘wingman’, which greatly increases combat mass and adaptability. However, autonomy isn’t just about new robotics platforms – autonomous software also plays a key part.
Adopting autonomous systems and robotics enables:
- significant operational advantage
- reduced risk to life, the creation of mass and increased mission tempo
- fast processing of data, displaying real-time information and reducing cognitive burden on the operator
- the augmentation of existing platforms to deliver greater functionality and response
QinetiQ has expertise in autonomous systems and robotics across the globe in the Land domain, alongside maritime and air domains, offering wide ranging capability with autonomy software and algorithms and mission system requirements. All of our technologies have been developed with scalability, security and certification in mind; reducing risk, creating mass and offering increased tempo – delivering and enabling advanced military capability and significant operational advantage.
Ready for deployment: 2025 – 2030
More on autonomy Autonomy reportEnhanced effectors
Directed energy systems have the potential to transform military approaches. Make the desirable practical through advanced power.
Laser directed energy weapons (LDEW) deliver highly focused energy for precision targeting. High-energy lasers (HEL) produce a narrow beam of intense light to direct and hit a target such as a UAV, being intense enough to burn the skin material to structurally compromise the target within seconds. HEL effectors also dazzle and damage optical sensors on targets, both from tens of kilometres distance.
Directed Energy enables:
- deep magazine powered entirely by electricity
- a speed of light attack providing operational advantage
- rapid retargeting – electronically steerable
- a smaller collateral damage footprint – no fragments or blast effects that could harm bystanders
QinetiQ provide innovative mission applicable Directed Energy solutions to address our customers’ key challenges and to close capability gaps. We have offerings in Directed Energy effector technology sub-systems; Directed Energy protection technologies and resilience, alongside solutions for training, simulation and experimentation with Directed Energy systems.
Ready for deployment: 2030 – 2035
More on direct energyImproved situational awareness
Platforms, sensors and systems producing actionable data enables faster, defined decisions for mission success.
Technology is constantly evolving around us, becoming increasingly sophisticated. Obtaining actionable data and having this delivered in real-time direct to land vehicles provides you with an information and operational advantage, enabling rapid decision analysis and faster responses.
Intelligent sensing enables:
- greater battlefield connectivity and awareness
- significant operational advantage
- pertinent analytics and information to stay ahead of adversaries
- C4 and ISR capability across the electromagnetic spectrum
QinetiQ has a long track record of expertise in the design, development, test and evaluation, integration and deployment of sensors across military applications, alongside software for sensor fusion and sensor system interoperability. Our solutions ensure the end-user is presented with pertinent information in real-time, enabling rapid analysis and decision making for an actionable response at speed.
Ready for deployment: 2030 – 2035
More on information advantageElectrified PLATFORms
Next generation power and energy technology will be critical for enabling future power demands throughout the battlespace.
As power demand increases, it must be serviced by reliable, secure energy storage and delivery. In a platform with hybrid electric drive, power can be supplied from the generator to anywhere on the vehicle, either directly or via battery storage. It can increase the available on-board power from tens of kilowatts to up to a megawatt.
Electrifying military platforms enables:
- improved mobility, durability and adaptability
- the reduction of fossil fuel dependency, minimising environmental impact
- cost saving, space and weight distribution advantages
- the potential reduction of fatalities as fuel supply is a battlefield target
- the ability to serve as part of a micro-grid to deliver power that can be used for other functionality
QinetiQ has the expertise in power and energy, leading in the research, development, prototyping, independent testing and trusted sourcing or supply of batteries, fuel cells, supercapacitors and the storage and generation of hydrogen. As battery technology advances rapidly, our technology and expertise ensures you have the advantage, providing power you can rely on with advanced performance and reliability for critical and hazardous environments.
Ready for deployment: 2021 – 2025
More on powerIntegration and Assurance
Platform integration and the integration of complex systems into a coherent whole needs to starts a long time before the physical components have been manufactured and work commences on connecting them together. The most important aspect of creating a powerful system of systems is the information architecture into which it connects and clear definition of the mechanisms through which the information from the various sensors are shared with analysis and decision support applications. This in turn impacts how this information is presented to the crew for them to make informed decisions about the next course of action and ultimately whether or not to deploy effects and where those effects can most usefully be targeted.
QinetiQ has been supporting the armed forces in the UK to architect complex systems such as these for many years, supported by a rigorous methodology and accompanying toolset for confirming the correct integration and effective / safe deployment of systems into operational use.
In addition to the architecture and integration of the complex systems on board a modern combat vehicle, the vehicle itself must meet a stringent set of standards across many areas including environmental, safety and survivability, in order to provide assurance to the crew and the armed forces that the vehicle can perform its mission in the widest possible set of scenarios, all whilst keeping the crew safe and secure. QinetiQ has at its disposal many highly complex test facilities and equipment, alongside great experience of operating and then analysing the test results in order to advise customers of the vehicles various capabilities along with any issues or risks and mitigations required in order for the vehicle to be operated safely.