Location: Farnborough, Hampshire
Website: https://www.qinetiq.com/Pages/default.aspx
Type: Private
QinetiQ are a company based in the UK, who also have a subsidiary in the US. Their service offerings account for the majority of their sales but their products division also provides technology-based solutions.
They are said to have a wealth of technical expertise and domain know-how, with engineers and scientists that are able to develop tools for customers to ‘meet challenges that define the modern world’.
In regard to C-IED technology, QinetiQ are well-known for their TALON family of robots which have been used by some of the largest armed forces in the world, such as the United States. They were used of the operations throughout Iraq and Afghanistan to respond to the threat soldiers faced from IEDs in these operations. They were also used after the Boston marathon bombing by the Boston police and after the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center.
QinetiQ have constantly changed and updated their equipment to ensure it continues to meet the changing demands of detecting and clearing mines, unexploded ordnance and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) whilst maintaining soldier safety via technologies that mean the soldier remains at a safe distance from the device or remotely.
The company also provide global repair and maintenance footprint, which contributes to the complete mission support they offer.
At least 2500 TALON robots have been used with the US military, and have also been used by the Australian Defence Force, and US police departments.
This profile is part of AOAV’s investigation into counter-IED (C-IED) actors around the globe. To see the list of all C-IED actors recorded by AOAV, see here. To see those engaged in the Middle East, the Sahel, North Africa or other highly impacted countries please see here, here, here, and here respectively. This research was made possible by funding from the NATO Counter Improvised Explosive Devices Centre of Excellence (C-IED COE). To read the full report, ‘Addressing the threat posed by IEDs: National, Regional and Global Initiatives’, see here.
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