The Royal Netherlands Navy frigate HNLMS Evertsen has shot down multiple simulated aerial and surface drone threats during Exercise Sharpshooter off the Welsh coast, marking the first time a NATO ally has participated in the QinetiQ-run event, the company stated.
The live-firing exercise took place over three days at MOD Aberporth, with Evertsen operating around 20 miles offshore. The scenario involved simulated swarm attacks using QinetiQ’s Banshee Whirlwind aerial drone targets and its Hammerhead uncrewed surface vehicles, alongside synthetic threats integrated into the exercise environment.
According to QinetiQ, the Dutch warship successfully tracked and neutralised five aerial targets and struck and sank two Hammerhead unmanned surface vehicles during the exercise. The threat scenario, designed by QinetiQ-owned Inzpire, required the defence of critical assets in contested waters. Live targets were blended with synthetic representations of cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and hostile aircraft, testing the ship’s 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.”
Will Blamey, Chief Executive UK Defence at QinetiQ, said the exercise underlined the importance of multinational interoperability. He 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.”
Blamey 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 said it operates 16 UK sites under the Long-Term Partnering Agreement, delivering test and training activities across land, sea and air domains.
The exercise follows earlier Sharpshooter activity involving HMS Dauntless, which conducted similar drone swarm engagements ahead of deployment with the UK Carrier Strike Group. QinetiQ also recently supported Exercise Med Strike in the Mediterranean and Formidable Shield off Scotland, which involved 11 allied nations countering threats ranging from drone swarms to ballistic and supersonic missiles.
Errm, Is this the third time now ?
Fourth, I think. The Dutch Navy must be the best-drilled in the world.
Fourth ! ha ha.
I wonder If It’ll appear again now ?
Third or fourth time?
What’s the weather like in Devon ? Thinking of a little visit to Instow this coming week.
The whole south west is a great big puddle mate.. bring your wellies.
Haha, I got my Waders just in case !
What is interesting is these air defence vessels will probably be the first ones to get their own air defence optionally manned side kick drones.. the Dutch are ordering 2 600 ton vessels to accompany their air defence frigates.. each will have a crew of 8 and be semi autonomous ( because the Dutch don’t believe fully autonomous complex combatants are viable at present).. what is interesting is although the frigates will be armed with US standard family missiles and ESSM the support vessels will be armed with Isreali Barak ER surface-to-air interceptors… which is very very interesting.