The Pentagon has awarded QinetiQ a $13.3-million contract to supply its Vindicator II uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) target support services to the US Navy (USN).
As QinetiQ Target Systems is based in Canada, the deal was facilitated by the Canadian Commercial Corporation as the prime contractor together with Public Services and Procurement Canada.
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 USN.
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 UAV services to the USN’s San Nicolas Island and Dam Neck training sites.
“QinetiQ is extremely proud to continue this contract and program. This is a much-appreciated recognition of the excellent working relationship between QinetiQ and our USN customer and a nod to the outstanding service provided by our Global Field Services team for more than two decades,” said Project and Customer Account Manager Ryan Peterson.
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.
