The Royal Netherlands Navy has completed a live-firing exercise off the UK coast focused on countering drone swarm threats, during the first participation by a NATO ally in Exercise Sharpshooter, according to Qinetiq.
The activity took place over three days at the MOD Aberporth range in Wales, where the Dutch frigate HNLMS Evertsen operated around 20 miles offshore. The exercise combined live and synthetic scenarios designed to replicate emerging threats faced by naval forces in contested environments.
During the serials, the ship was targeted by simulated aerial and surface drone attacks. QinetiQ’s Banshee Whirlwind aerial drone targets and Hammerhead uncrewed surface vehicles were used, alongside virtual threats intended to mirror more complex attack profiles. According to QinetiQ, HNLMS Evertsen successfully tracked and neutralised five aerial targets and also engaged and sank two Hammerhead uncrewed surface vehicles during the exercise.
The overall scenario was designed by QinetiQ-owned Inzpire and centred on the defence of critical assets at sea. Tactical specialists combined live targets with synthetic inputs representing cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and hostile aircraft, testing shipboard procedures from detection through to engagement.
Commander Marcel Keveling of the Royal Netherlands Navy said: “HNLMS Evertsen and the Royal Netherlands Navy are grateful to have trained on such an immersive level. To be able to fire at live targets and keep our crew in a higher state of readiness for multiple days has taught us many lessons we aim to take with us when sailing on an operational level.”
He added: “Especially in the ever-changing world of today we find it important to train as realistically as possible, this exercise was a prime example of that.”
QinetiQ said Exercise Sharpshooter is intended to provide highly realistic training by blending live firings with digital and synthetic environments, allowing complex threat patterns to be rehearsed safely.
Will Blamey, Chief Executive for UK Defence at QinetiQ, said: “With interoperability between nations more important than ever, these exercises give the UK and its allies the opportunity to train alongside each other, sharing tactics and learnings to improve readiness.”
He added: “By blending live and synthetic training with advanced capabilities, we help allied forces stay battle-ready and make confident decisions in a fast-changing threat environment.”
QinetiQ is a major provider of test and evaluation and training services for the UK armed forces. Through its Long-Term Partnering Agreement with the Ministry of Defence, the company operates 16 sites across the UK supporting land, sea and air activity.
The company noted that earlier last year Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dauntless conducted similar drone defence training during a Sharpshooter exercise ahead of deployment with the UK Carrier Strike Group. Additional QinetiQ-supported exercises in 2025 included Exercise Med Strike in the Mediterranean and Formidable Shield off Scotland, both involving multinational participation and a wide range of aerial and missile threats.
Not another one?
Gonna trigger Halfwit throwing the S word around like that.
It did the first time they posted this exact article, and the second. Something’s up with the UKDJ scheduling system.
5 aerial targets is hardly a swarm!