Deep sea and outer space contracts boost QinetiQ

The defence and technology company has won two multi-million pound contracts to work in the ocean and outer space

Undated handout computer-generated image showing how balloonists Andy Elson and Colin Prescot, sponsored by QinetiQ, will aim to break the world manned balloon altitude record by ascending 130,000ft - 25 miles - to the edge of space
QinetiQ said visibility on future defence spending remained limited Credit: Photo: PA

QinetiQ, the defence and technology company, has won two multi-million pound contracts to work in the ocean and outer space.

The FTSE 250 company, the former research arm of the Ministry of Defence, won a five-year, £5.3m contract to deploy and maintain the Ministry of Defence’s underwater mobile acoustic targets, which are used during testing to ensure torpedoes fired from submarines hit their target. Troubled support services company Serco previously had the contract.

The targets work in the water by giving off a signal and it is this signal that the submarine uses to detect where the target is so that it can then lock on and fire their torpedo at the target.

Used during testing, once the torpedo has reached its target it will stop and float to the surface so the data collected can be analysed.

Underwater acoustic target - autonomous maritime surveillance

QinetiQ said the information gathered would be used to train submariners, as well as recording the movements of the torpedoes, which have had their warheads replaced by an inflatable tube, to determine what can be done to improve them. This data will then be used to develop new torpedoes and technology.

The acoustic targets will be used at the British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre based at the Kyle of Lochalsh in Scotland, which is operated by QinetiQ on behalf of the Royal Navy and the MoD.

The second contract is between QinetiQ Space and the European Space Agency to develop the International Berthing Docking Mechanism, which will be used to dock spacecraft at the International Space Station (ISS).

QinetiQ’s role will be to develop a protype for a new, softer docking system on the ISS.

Currently when spacecraft dock on the ISS, it must approach at speed to ensure good contact, which leads to a large bump on the ISS, which can in turn affect experiments being carried out inside. The current docking system can also only take a certain size spacecraft.

QinetiQ said it would develop a “soft” docking system, which would have a ‘cushion’ to allow the spacecraft to approach at a much slower speed and prevent the bump, as well as taking almost any size space ship.

Live from Space

The International Space Station

The deal is understood to be a similar size to the MoD deal and will run until the first quarter of next year.

If successful, the company said there would be another contract in a couple of years to build the docking station that would actually be used in space.