Weapons test and evaluation is fundamental to delivering the evidential trail that is a critical element of our technical assurance service. It is a discipline in which we excel.
We manage the UK MOD's weapon test and evaluation ranges through a Long Term Partnering Agreement (LTPA), providing the overall UK competence in this crucial area. Our main weapons ranges (Eskmeals, Shoeburyness, Pendine, Aberporth and Hebrides) can carry out a fully comprehensive set of test and evaluation trials to meet every operational aspect of weapons, including:
- Static trials of detonations, firings and restrained operation of rocket motors
- Dynamic firing tests from guns and missile launchers
- Air launched weapon firings
- Assessments of the internal and external ballistics of weapons
- Examinations of warhead detonation and fragmentation
On all ranges we provide targets, data analysis and instrumentation as appropriate. The deployment of representative targets – including subsonic aerial targets, pop-up helicopters, vehicles and fixed structures – allows us to offer a safe and secure training environment to complement the Test & Evaluation work.
Shoeburyness is where we conduct dynamic and static tests on gun and missile systems to assess weapon and lethality performance. It has a large environmental test centre for assessment of weapon life and safety under extremes of operating environments. There are also demilitarisation facilities for the safe destruction of stressed munitions.
The Pendine range has complementary capabilities with particular emphasis on smaller calibre systems. It also has a 1,500m rocket powered, high speed (mach3) sled test track. This is employed to evaluate the terminal phase of weapon flight and assess weapon performance and missile attack warning sensors.
Our Eskmeals range provides additional capacity for dynamic and static trials, offering a large sea danger area for long range artillery trials (up to 49 km).
Aberporth range provides a controlled safe environment for the release and firing of land, air and sea-launched missile systems.
Hebrides has a Deep Range for complex weapons trials and in-service firings, and an Inner Range for ground-based air defence campaigns.
We also operate explosives licenced facilities at Fort Halstead and Ardeer to provide prototyping and forensic breakdown of munitions and a full suite of energetics laboratory services.
In addition to testing and evaluating weapons directly for the UK MOD, we also work with major industry customers in the UK and internationally.
In some cases, international customers wish to use their own in-country test and evaluation facilities. We support this through the provision of facility management and consultancy services and provide fully bespoke design and implementation services.