QinetiQ secures USD 95 million aerial target systems contract with U.S. Army

Under the contract, QinetiQ will supply advanced aerial targets, including the MQM-185B (Banshee Jet 80+), designed to simulate modern threats and enhance combat readiness. In addition to the systems, QinetiQ will provide operational support, optimising target usability and reliability for effective training outcomes.

Sam Lewis, Group Chief Growth Officer at QinetiQ, emphasised that the contract represents a significant step for QinetiQ in the US, leveraging expertise from the company’s UK, US, Australia, Germany, and Canada operations. This partnership highlights QinetiQ’s global reputation for delivering adaptable, cost-effective aerial targets that address evolving threats.

QinetiQ plans to leverage its extensive experience to drive advancements in aerial target technology, including enhanced systems engineering, integration of sophisticated payloads for threat replication, and improved autonomy through advanced software. With over three decades in the aerial targets industry, QinetiQ’s systems have maintained a 97% mission success rate over the last five years, underscoring their reliability and adaptability to specific customer requirements, QinetiQ said in a statement.