QinetiQ is the 6th largest UK-headquartered arms and military services company and the 72nd largest in the world, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). QinetiQ was founded in 2001 following the split of the former British Armed forces research agency, the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, into two. It has two primary segments: Europe, Middle East and Asia (EMEA) services and Global Services. EMEA services is further divided into UK Defence and UK Intelligence services, and Global Services is divided into United States, and UK Defence, UK Intelligence and Australia products.
QinetiQ reports 2024 revenues of UK£ 1.9 billion with three core markets: the UK, accounting for 67% of revenues, the US (17.8%), and Australia (7.5%). QinetiQ employs over 6,000 persons across 34 sites in the UK with a further 2,275 employees elsewhere, notably in the US, where QinetiQ has a subsidiary, QinetiQ North America, which has a high volume of contracts with US military and intelligence agencies. QinetiQ’s 2025 annual report lists subsidiaries in its core market countries and additionally in Canada, Germany, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Sweden. It also has joint ventures in the US, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. QinetiQ has applied for UK export licences to Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel, the US, Pakistan, France, Oman, the UAE, Turkey and Bahrain.
Much of the company’s work involves research and development, testing and evaluation, and training, as well as military information systems, target systems, and cyber security. It also manufactures military products including a range of robots and unmanned systems for land and sea, with varying size and purposes, including armed robots. QinetiQ works very closely with UK and US military and intelligence agencies. QinetiQ is subject to a Long Term Partnering Agreement (LTPA) with the UK government which will run to 2033 after being extended by five years in 2025.
Drones and counter-drone technologies
QinetiQ produces a range of unmanned aerial systems (drones) and counter-drones systems.
In 2023, it announced the launch of its Jackdaw ‘disposable’ combat drone in collaboration with BAE Systems. These are expected to operational in late 2025. In 2024, QinetiQ successfully trialled “the UK’s first Crewed-Uncrewed-Teaming demonstration between a crewed aircraft and an autonomous jet drone.”
QinetiQ also produces the Banshee line of drones, including the Banshee Jet 80 target drones. Previously produced by Meggitt systems – QinetiQ acquired its drone segment – Banshee drones have been operational in more than 40 countries. These have been found in Ukraine where they were intended for industrial testing of ground-to-air or air-to-air missiles, but have been diverted to strike critical Russian infrastructure, reports Intelligence Online. The UK government has regularly supplied drones to Ukraine to assist their campaign against Russian forces; QinetiQ is believed to participate in the effort.
In the realm of counter-UAS technologies, QinetiQ produces the Obsidian counter-UAS product. This has been tested at Ottawa airport. QinetiQ US won a US$ 41 million order in 2025 to provide software and technology integration support for a counter-UAS project by the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) C5ISR Center.
Robotics
QinetiQ produces a wide range of autonomous and semi-autonomous robots designed for various uses.
These include, for example, the Modular Advanced Armed Robotic System (MAARS) unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) which conducts reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition missions; it has been used since at least 2006 by the US military. The Minotaur, a robotic mine clearing system, has been used by the US army since at least 2012. The Talon mine-clearing robot, produced by an American QinetiQ subsidiary, was among the first to be used by UK and US troops in Afghanistan. The Saudi military has also acquired Talons. The Titan, developed with robotics company Milrem, is capable of launching Javelin anti-tank missiles. The UK acquired two in 2020.
Predictive analytics
QinetiQ has a “data science” programme which works on artificial intelligence and machine learning projects. In 2021, the UK’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) awarded QinetiQ a UK£ 250,000 grant to “predict radicalisation among certain individuals,” according to Intelligence Online.
Space defence
In 2024, QinetiQ also received a share of UK£ 1.6 million from DASA to develop space sensors capable of detecting small objects.
Controversies
Saudi and Qatari ventures
In Saudi Arabia, QinetiQ formed a joint venture, QDM, with Saudi company Dar Massader in 2018 described as “bringing cutting edge technology, and capability to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and developing the local capability.” At the DSEI arms fair in 2019, QDM and Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) signed an MOU to jointly develop Saudi arms testing and evaluation capabilities. QinetiQ’s 2025 annual report states that QinetiQ owns 49% of QDM. QDM is mentioned on the Dar Massader website.
QinetiQ also engaged in a joint venture with Qatari group, Barzan Holdings, chaired in 2021 by the Qatari defence minister. Called BQ Solutions, the venture’s primary clients appear to be Qatari military agencies. BQ Solutions is not listed among QinetiQ’s joint ventures in its 2025 annual report.
Israel and the Palestinian territories
In July 2017, War on Want published a report claiming that UK-based banks and investment companies are complicit in Israeli war crimes against Palestinians. The report highlighted a UK£ 5 million investment by Barclays and UK£ 9.9 million investment by HSBC in QinetiQ but did not clarify QinetiQ’s link to Israeli actions in Palestine. QinetiQ did not respond to the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre’s request for comment.
Hacking controversy
In 2013, Bloomberg reported that QinetiQ North America had been attacked by Chinese hackers and that sensitive US military research by QinetiQ had been compromised.
