QinetiQ Group PLC
UK defence technology company founded 2001; makes TALON EOD robots (3,500+ in 20+ countries, 130,000+ missions) and Dragon Runner UGVs for military use.
QinetiQ Group PLC is a British defence technology company headquartered in Farnborough, Hampshire, United Kingdom. It was created in July 2001 when its assets were spun out of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA), a former UK government research body. QinetiQ listed on the London Stock Exchange in February 2006 and is currently a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. The company reported FY2024 revenues of approximately GBP 1.9 billion, with the UK accounting for 67% of revenues, the US for approximately 18%, and Australia for approximately 7.5%. QinetiQ employs over 6,000 people across 34 UK sites plus approximately 2,275 staff internationally.
Robotics and autonomous systems form a major part of QinetiQ's product portfolio, particularly through its subsidiary QinetiQ Inc. (formerly QinetiQ North America), which holds extensive contracts with US military and intelligence agencies.
The TALON robot family is QinetiQ's flagship robotic product. Introduced in 2000, TALON is a tracked robot widely regarded as the world's most widely deployed explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) robot. More than 3,500 TALON systems have been delivered to over 20 countries. Since 2002, TALON robots have participated in over 130,000 combat missions and have been credited with defeating more than 11,000 improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The TALON VI, the sixth generation of the platform, modernises the design for current operational requirements. TALON variants support reconnaissance, IED detection, EOD operations, CBRN/HAZMAT assessment, security tasks, and heavy lift missions.
The Modular Advanced Armed Robotic System (MAARS) is a member of the TALON family developed as a successor to the SWORDS armed robot. MAARS is an unmanned ground vehicle used by the US military for reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition since at least 2006. The MAARS Grey Muzzle variant is equipped with machine guns and grenade launchers for direct fire support, with autonomous navigation and waypoint following enabled by an onboard AI system, though weapon release requires human authorisation.
The Dragon Runner family comprises smaller, highly portable UGVs. Dragon Runner 10 weighs approximately 4.5 kg and can be carried in a standard-issue backpack. The Dragon Runner SUGV was originally designed for the US Marine Corps and is modular, supporting both reconnaissance and IED disarmament configurations in urban, mountainous, and rural terrain. QinetiQ's Dragon Runner was selected to support Australian Defence Force operations, demonstrating international adoption beyond its US and UK origins.
In 2024, QinetiQ conducted the UK's first successful crewed-uncrewed teaming demonstration between a crewed aircraft and an autonomous jet drone, reflecting the company's expansion into air autonomous systems alongside its established land robotics portfolio.
Primary type & automation activities this supplier delivers:
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Contact QinetiQ Group PLC
WEBSITE
https://www.qinetiq.comPHONE
+44 1252 392000HEADQUARTERS
United Kingdom
Company Facts
Founded
2001
Primary Role
Manufacturer
Company Size
-
Primary Region
Europe
Annual Sales
-
Funding Stage
-
Funding Total
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