QinetiQ to Supply Drone Target Support Services for US Navy
The Pentagon has awarded QinetiQ Target Systems Canada a $13.3-million contract to supply Vindicator II target drone support services to the US Navy.
The five-year deal with a six-month extension provision came into effect in December and includes Canadian personnel deployed to provide services to the navy.
It also counts as the sixth consecutive framework agreement awarded to the company’s Medicine Hat Facility and includes the most extensive deployment of its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) services to the service’s San Nicolas Island and Dam Neck training sites.
“QinetiQ is extremely proud to continue this contract and program,” said Project and Customer Account Manager Ryan Peterson.
“This is a much-appreciated recognition of the excellent working relationship between QinetiQ and our [US Navy] customer and a nod to the outstanding service provided by our Global Field Services team for more than two decades.”
The deal was facilitated by the Canadian Commercial Corporation as the prime contractor together with Public Services and Procurement Canada.
The Vindicator
As a recoverable UAV basic training target, the Vindicator simulates missile and aircraft threats operating at ranges over 100 nautical miles (115 miles/185 kilometers) against air defense systems.
With its fixed-wing and rotary-wing radar signatures, it can replicate four types of threats: high diver, UAV, low-slow-flyer, and helicopters.
It is capable of operating on land, at sea, and in extreme environmental conditions.
