The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) has selected QinetiQ Maritime to conduct research and deliver a solution that will help defend the Royal Navy vessels against emerging small boat threats.

Awarded by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), the research contract will involve combining two QinetiQ concepts to develop a new technology that will boost co-ordinated defence capability against threats such as small, fast and agile boat attacks by pirates, terrorists or other hostile forces.

Dstl Programme Office Maritime above Water programme leader Dr Philip Smith said that the company will provide an innovative integrated approach to enable the navy to respond to the small boat threat, combining detection, weapon firing and decision making.

"The research contract will involve combining two QinetiQ concepts to develop a new technology that will boost co-ordinated defence capability against threats."

QinetiQ Maritime Systems programme director Stuart Hider said that the research will enhance the defence of the Royal Navy’s front line operators.

"One of our primary areas of expertise is the concept development and design of integrated command information systems," Hider added.

In addition to enabling naval commanders to operate more effectively in active littoral environments, the new technology will allow the crew to respond to potential threats while reducing danger exposure from agile threats.

"The work also brings in QinetiQ’s Survivability Practice, which is focused on the protection of people, places and platforms," Hider said.

Defence Technology