The Ministry of Defence (MOD) and QinetiQ have initiated Project Safari, a joint programme designed to transform how defence capabilities are tested and evaluated. The programme aims to provide Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with improved access to the UK's sovereign Test and Evaluation (T&E) facilities.
Project Safari seeks to remove existing barriers, such as outdated bureaucracy, which have reportedly prevented smaller businesses and new entrants from testing their ideas and technology in real-life scenarios. This initiative is intended to create a smoother route for innovative firms into the defence sector, supporting jobs and investment.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP, stated that limited access to T&E facilities has been holding back smaller businesses. Group CEO of QinetiQ, Steve Wadey, added that the programme will help accelerate the delivery of military capabilities. The project will bring together government, industry, regulators, and technology innovators to streamline access to specialist facilities and expertise.
During a visit to MOD Hebrides, Luke Pollard MP signed an agreement with QinetiQ for the initial design stage of a multimillion-pound investment to develop the site. This development aims to enable the testing of advanced technologies, including hypersonic missiles. Project Safari is a practical demonstration of the Strategic Defence Review's ambition to increase defence spending with SMEs by £2.5 billion a year by summer 2028.