Canadian Navy orders 40 Hammerhead unmanned surface targets

The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) has ordered over 40 Hammerhead unmanned surface vehicle targets and various payloads from QinetiQ Target Systems under a contract modification worth CAD$4.7 million.

The order was placed under an existing five-year, $35 million framework contract with the Canadian Department of National Defence, awarded in May 2016, for provision of surface and aerial target systems.

The Hammerhead, fitted with a variety of threat emulating payloads, enables ship operators to train against the piracy threat by simulating fast inshore attack craft. The targets can be controlled in large swarms to replicate a coordinated attack by multiple vessels.

Peter Longstaff, managing director of QinetiQ Target Systems, said: “The Hammerhead is continually proving to be a cost effective and high performing surface target for the RCN and several other customers around the world. The RCN is a very important client for us and we are extremely proud to manufacture the Hammerhead in Canada.”

QinetiQ Target Systems (QTS) was formed in December 2016, when QinetiQ invested £57.5m in the acquisition of Meggitt Target Systems.