QinetiQ signs £10m Dstl contract to maintain UK's advanced materials capability
QinetiQ has renewed a contract with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) that enables the UK military to retain its tactical advantage through use of advanced materials.
Under the contract, worth £10m over five years, QinetiQ will develop and test defence materials that will protect the UK’s land, air, maritime and subsea vehicles from the next generation of threats.
The investment ensures continued use of world-class research facilities established using Dstl funding granted in 2012. The QinetiQ capability is the only one of its kind in the UK.
Dstl Programme Manager John Pearson, said: “As technology advances at an unprecedented rate and becomes more accessible to hostile states and groups, it is vital that the UK stays one step ahead. Our investment will preserve a unique capability of critical national importance, enabling the British Armed Forces to maintain their battle-winning edge.”
To safeguard the future of the capability and ensure it continues to provide value for money, the contract permits QinetiQ to spin out its non-classified intellectual property into commercial and overseas markets. In one recent example, QinetiQ has applied its expertise to wind farms, advising the French Government whether planned turbines will interfere with weather radar.
Dr David Moore, Director of Research Services at QinetiQ, said: “The facilities and research funded under this contract place the UK at the cutting-edge of advanced materials technology. The investment not only maintains a crucial battlefield advantage, but opens up a commercial supply chain that supports UK jobs, businesses and academia. The result is a hotbed of innovation, adding value for the UK Government with no additional burden on the taxpayer.”
The contract is part of the Materials and Structures Technology (MAST) Science and Technology Centre (STC), a virtual centre supporting around 80 suppliers across industry and academia.