Formidable Shield Begins at QinetiQ-Operated MOD Hebrides

Europe’s largest Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) exercise has begun at the QinetiQ-operated MOD Hebrides range off the north-west coast of Scotland. Formidable Shield, which started earlier this month at the Andoya Range in Norway before transitioning to Scottish waters, will see 10 NATO nations and Australia demonstrate allied interoperability in a series of live-fire events against aerial and surface targets.

The exercise is being hosted at MOD Hebrides, one of 16 sites that QinetiQ operates under the Long Term Partnering Agreement with the UK Ministry of Defence. During the exercise the range is extended, providing a managed battlespace of 1.1 million km2 - four times the size of the UK - enabling allied forces to test their full capabilities in a safe environment.

QinetiQ’s role includes supporting exercise organisers U.S. Sixth Fleet and Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) in the design and delivery of credible and realistic threat scenarios – including utilising QinetiQ’s Banshee and Hammerhead aerial and surface targets – as well as leading the analysis and interpretation of operational data captured, identifying the effectiveness of the capabilities involved.

Since 2015, the biennial Formidable Shield exercise has grown and evolved, providing an increasingly complex set of scenarios for military personnel to practice against, reflecting the ever-changing real-world threats. As well as detecting and destroying subsonic, supersonic and ballistic targets, participants taking part in this year’s exercise will also face swarming drone attacks and have to work as a multi-domain force to fully exercise their air defences.

Will Blamey, Chief Executive of QinetiQ’s UK Defence Sector said: “Exercise Formidable Shield showcases QinetiQ’s role as a trusted and enduring partner to NATO and allied Armed Forces.

“By delivering a secure training environment, realistic threat representation scenarios and expert data analysis, we help to ensure military personnel are prepared to respond decisively to real-world, high-stakes situations, including air and missile attacks.

“MOD Hebrides is one of the few locations in the world capable of supporting such complex, long-range live-fire exercises and QinetiQ is proud to serve as host and technical facilitating partner.”

Formidable Shield runs until Friday 23 May.