UK Ministry of Defence and QinetiQ launch Project Safari to cut testing barriers for smaller firms

The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence and QinetiQ have launched Project Safari to make military test and evaluation infrastructure easier for smaller defense companies to access. The initiative builds on the Long Term Partnering Agreement governing 16 test and evaluation sites, aiming to streamline engagement, approvals and practical trials for technologies including unmanned systems, directed energy and hypersonics. The partners also announced design-stage work concerning potential modernization of the Hebrides test range for advanced missile testing. Project Safari is an access and experimentation initiative, while the Hebrides activity remains preparatory design work rather than a completed range upgrade or operational weapon demonstration.