Warship downs drone swarm off British coast in exercise

The Royal Netherlands Navy has completed a live-fire air and surface defence exercise off the Welsh coast, successfully countering simulated drone swarm attacks during its first participation in Exercise Sharpshooter.

The exercise, run by QinetiQ at MOD Aberporth, marked the first time a NATO ally has taken part in Sharpshooter, which combines live and synthetic threat scenarios to replicate modern high-intensity maritime combat. Over three days, the Dutch frigate HNLMS Evertsen operated around 20 miles off the coast, defending against a series of complex unmanned threats.

During the exercise, Evertsen tracked and neutralised five aerial targets using QinetiQ’s Banshee Whirlwind drone, while also engaging and sinking two Hammerhead uncrewed surface vehicles. Virtual threats were layered into the scenario to simulate cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as hostile aircraft, testing the ship’s sensors, command systems and weapons across the full detect-to-engage sequence.

The scenario, designed by QinetiQ-owned Inzpire, focused on the defence of critical assets in contested waters, reflecting the growing prominence of massed unmanned systems in modern naval warfare.

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 that “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 the exercise underlined the increasing importance of multinational training as allied navies adapt to rapidly evolving threats. Will Blamey, Chief Executive of 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 that “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.”

Sharpshooter forms part of a wider programme of UK- and NATO-focused missile and air defence training delivered by QinetiQ. Earlier in 2025, Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dauntless countered simulated drone swarms during a Sharpshooter serial ahead of its deployment with the UK Carrier Strike Group. The company has also supported Exercise Med Strike in the Mediterranean and NATO’s Formidable Shield exercise off Scotland, which brought together 11 allied nations to counter threats ranging from drone swarms to ballistic and supersonic missiles.

QinetiQ operates 16 test and training sites across the UK under its Long-Term Partnering Agreement with the Ministry of Defence, providing integrated land, sea and air training for UK and allied forces.