UK’s QinetiQ Powers Naval Drills in Canada

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QinetiQ, the British defence technology firm, has delivered a suite of advanced target systems to support Cutlass Fury 2025, a multinational naval training exercise designed to bolster anti-submarine warfare capabilities and joint maritime operations.

Organised by the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), the biennial exercise took place earlier this year off Canada’s Atlantic coast. It brought together naval forces from Canada, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and the United States, each contributing ships, personnel, and equipment to improve collective readiness.

This marks QinetiQ’s fourth consecutive appearance in the exercise since its debut participation in 2019. Over the years, the company has become a trusted provider of simulated threat systems for the event, helping ensure that training is both realistic and operationally relevant.

For Cutlass Fury 2025, QinetiQ Target Systems supplied 12 Vindicator uncrewed aerial vehicle targets and six Hammerhead uncrewed surface vehicle targets. Each participating RCN vessel carried two targets, enabling crews to practice against both airborne and surface threats under controlled yet demanding conditions.

The Vindicator targets are designed to mimic the flight and radar profiles of hostile aircraft, while the Hammerhead units simulate fast inshore attack craft or unmanned maritime threats. These systems provide a cost-effective and safe way to prepare naval personnel for real-world operational challenges.

“We are pleased to work with the crew of HMCS Montreal to provide uncrewed aerial and surface targets for advanced multinational task group training,” said John Le Blanc, Programme Manager at QinetiQ Target Systems. “Complex naval exercises like Cutlass Fury ensure that Canada and our international allies have world-class sailors, aviators, and soldiers ready for future challenges.”

A dedicated six-person QinetiQ team operated the targets during the exercise, coordinating closely with ship crews to integrate the systems into live drills. The training package included anti-air and surface gunnery exercises, allowing crews to test weapon accuracy, reaction times, and tactical coordination.

The exercise also involved a range of anti-submarine warfare scenarios, air-maritime integration drills, and joint manoeuvres designed to strengthen interoperability among participating navies. The UK’s Royal Navy took part alongside Canadian, Danish, and US forces, ensuring that allied fleets could work seamlessly together in complex operational settings.

QinetiQ’s contribution to Cutlass Fury 2025 highlights the UK’s continuing commitment to NATO-aligned operations and its longstanding defence partnership with Canada. Both countries maintain strong defence ties, sharing not only equipment and technology but also training resources and operational expertise.

The company’s ongoing contract with the Royal Canadian Navy ensures continued support for future exercises, delivering the kind of training that enables crews to face emerging maritime threats with confidence.

In an era where naval forces must adapt to rapidly evolving threats from drones to cyber attacks, the ability to train against realistic targets is critical. QinetiQ’s systems allow navies to replicate scenarios that closely mirror modern combat environments without the risks or costs associated with live adversary engagement.

The UK’s participation in such exercises also reinforces the Royal Navy’s role in international maritime security. By engaging in multinational drills, the UK helps maintain a credible deterrence posture and ensures its forces are fully interoperable with key allies.

As the geopolitical landscape continues to evolve, such training exercises will remain essential for maintaining maritime security and safeguarding allied interests worldwide.