The Royal Netherlands Navy has completed a live-firing exercise off the coast of Wales, training against simulated drone and unmanned surface threats in a contested maritime environment. The activity marked the first time a NATO ally has taken part in Exercise Sharpshooter, a training series run by QinetiQ that combines live and synthetic threat scenarios.
The three-day exercise took place at the UK Ministry of Defence’s Aberporth range, around 20 miles off the Welsh coast. Dutch frigate HNLMS Evertsen was subjected to a series of coordinated attacks involving aerial drones, unmanned surface vehicles and virtual threats designed to replicate modern, multi-domain combat conditions.
According to QinetiQ, the exercise involved its Banshee Whirlwind aerial drone targets and Hammerhead uncrewed surface vehicles, alongside synthetic representations of cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and hostile aircraft. The scenario required the ship’s crew to defend critical assets while managing multiple, overlapping threats from different domains.
During the exercise, Evertsen tracked and neutralized five aerial targets and successfully engaged and sank two Hammerhead surface vehicles. The event tested the ship’s detection, command-and-control and engagement procedures from initial detection through to threat neutralization.
Exercise design and threat integration were supported by Inzpire, a QinetiQ-owned company specializing in operational training and decision-support. Live and virtual elements were combined to stress-test crew readiness and operational decision-making over an extended period.
Exercise Sharpshooter is part of a broader programme of live and synthetic training activities delivered by QinetiQ for the UK and allied forces. Recent iterations have included Royal Navy and NATO participation in exercises such as Med Strike in the Mediterranean and Formidable Shield off the coast of Scotland, both of which focused on countering complex threats ranging from drone swarms to advanced missile systems.
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