A significant commercial and strategic opportunity for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) within the defence sector has emerged following the agreement between QinetiQ and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to modify the Long Term Partnering Agreement (LTPA).
These contract amendments, effective immediately, introduce a new Test & Evaluation (T&E) Innovation Gateway, specifically designed to reduce the cost and complexity barriers that previously inhibited SMEs from utilising the UK’s extensive T&E capabilities. This development, announced on October 9th, 2025, is a direct initiative to accelerate innovation and ensure the rapid deployment of disruptive technologies to the front line.
The core of the change involves a substantial reduction in the financial charges applied to SMEs seeking access to QinetiQ-operated test ranges, facilities, and technical expertise under the LTPA. For businesses engaged in research, development, and the prototyping of novel defence solutions, this reduction in overhead costs makes advanced, realistic operational testing economically viable, allowing more capital to be retained for product development and scaling. The MOD has recognized that SMEs are essential for maintaining the operational advantage of the UK and allied nations in an environment characterized by evolving threats.
QinetiQ’s investment in the new T&E Innovation Gateway includes the establishment of a dedicated support team focused on facilitating SME access. This team will provide guidance on identifying suitable test ranges, navigating complex regulatory approvals, and connecting innovators with relevant T&E expertise. The objective is to streamline the pathway from concept to validated capability, reducing the often lengthy timeframes associated with transitioning technology into the defence acquisition process. This is particularly pertinent for emerging sectors such as Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS) and Counter-UAS (C-UAS), where QinetiQ has already supported rapid prototyping and evaluation through specialized capabilities like DroneWorks.
This initiative aligns explicitly with the government’s stated intent to utilise defence spending as an engine for wider economic growth, ensuring that a larger proportion of the historic uplift in defence investment benefits the SME community. The commitment ensures that SMEs can now more easily put their solutions through rigorous testing in realistic operational environments, which is a mandatory step before any capability can be considered for military deployment. Businesses across the technology, engineering, and digital sectors must immediately review their development roadmaps to leverage this enhanced, cost-effective access to world-class T&E resources, positioning themselves to accelerate product validation and capture new opportunities within the MOD supply chain.
