DSEI 2025: QinetiQ wins training simulation contract for future Dreadnought-class crews

An artist's impression of the Dreadnought-class submarine. (Crown Copyright)

QinetiQ has won a contract to provide a simulation of the UK Dreadnought-class ballistic missile submarines to support the training of personnel on the platforms, Janes learnt at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) 2025 exhibition held in London from 9 to 12 September.

The contract is worth GBP8.2 million (USD11.1 million) over almost a two-year period and will be delivered by QinetiQ with support from BMT. The companies were selected following a competition run by Raytheon UK, an RTX company, on behalf of the Ministry of Defence's (MoD's) Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA).

Raytheon UK was awarded a GBP160 million contract in 2022 to be the lead contractor and systems integrator for the Dreadnought crew training programme. According to a 9 May 2022 Raytheon press release at the time of the contract award, “Working in collaboration with the UK MoD, Raytheon UK will be responsible for defining and delivering an integrated training solution into the new Future Submarine School (FSS) at HM Naval Base Clyde, as well as several other Royal Navy training establishments.”

According to QinetiQ, the Dreadnought Virtual Trainer will use gaming technology to provide a 3D virtual representation of the whole boat. QinetiQ will design and develop the simulation and a range of multiplayer operational scenarios, with trainees monitored in real time as to how they perform. This will not only enable improvements to the training delivery – resulting in increased retention – it will also accelerate the training, which can begin while the submarine is still being built.

The Dreadnoughts are currently under development and will replace the existing Vanguard class in providing the UK's continuous at-sea deterrent (CASD) in the 2030s.