QinetiQ is pursuing a major expansion of its mission critical engineering services for the UK Armed Forces, supported by new investment in digital and AI-enabled delivery methods, the company stated.
During a visit to QinetiQ’s Farnborough headquarters, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard met engineers and apprentices and was briefed on how the firm plans to accelerate upgrades across air, land and maritime programmes.
These efforts form part of the Engineering Delivery Partner contract, which supports work ranging from Typhoon updates to additive manufacturing for the Dreadnought submarine programme and the introduction of Challenger 3.
Pollard said in the release that “QinetiQ is a British business we can be proud of. It plays a crucial role in UK defence and is a national leader in test, evaluation and training, securing skilled jobs across the UK.” He added that meeting apprentices highlighted the importance of industry partnerships as the UK moves toward “a position of warfighting readiness.”
QinetiQ’s Group Chief Executive Steve Wadey said the company is working with the Ministry of Defence and wider industry to modernise delivery. “We’re continuing to invest in cutting-edge technology to increase productivity and get mission critical capability into the hands of our warfighters more quickly and at reduced cost,” he said.
According to the company, its teams are using new digital and AI techniques to support Typhoon availability and strengthen frontline readiness. The firm also reported progress on its Test and Evaluation Innovation Gateway, which is intended to reduce barriers for SMEs developing uncrewed systems and counter-UAS technology.
The Engineering Delivery Partner programme, delivered through the QinetiQ-led Aurora Partnership, now supports more than 3,000 highly skilled jobs. Over 75 percent of suppliers involved are SMEs, and the company stated that the programme has delivered 98 percent of milestones on or ahead of schedule since 2018, saving the Ministry of Defence around 200 million pounds.
“A British business we can be proud of…”
Yes, and much of it was a part of DERA at one time until flipping Labour sold it off in the late 90s early 2000s.
We retained the most sensitive areas within DSTL.
“QinetiQs Farnborough headquarters” I assume is the Cody Lab complex paid for by taxpayers and opened by Lord Robertson I recall when it was a MoD site.
Thrown away for savings, as usual.
Now? They make a profit out of MoD.