QinetiQ’s Phoenix Jet uncrewed aerial target has completed 500 flights.
“Reaching 500 successful flights with the Phoenix Jet is a proud moment for QinetiQ and a clear demonstration of the sovereign capability we deliver every day," Interim CEO, QinetiQ Australia, Corry Neale, said.
The milestone was reached during a live fire trial at Woomera, South Australia. Despite remote and challenging conditions, the QinetiQ team launched multiple Phoenix targets on time, enabling Australian Army Air Defence to attain strategic test and evaluation certification criteria.
“This milestone reflects the strength of our local workforce, our investment in Australian innovation, and our commitment to delivering reliable, mission-ready solutions to our customers that enhance operational readiness and national security," Neale commented.
The Phoenix Jet is designed, built, and sustained at QinetiQ’s Advanced Manufacturing Centre in Nowra, New South Wales. It is Australian designed and operated. Each Phoenix is engineered, integrated and subject to testing at QinetiQ’s Nowra, facilities to ensure compliance and quality prior to delivery.
Originally developed as a Research and Development project for the Australian Army Air Defence 16th Regiment, the Phoenix has evolved into an aerial target system, capable of supporting land, air, and maritime trials.
Operated by a sovereign Australian team, the Phoenix can fly either autonomously or via a remote pilot, providing advanced threat representation, Test & Evaluation (T&E) and mission rehearsal to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and allied partners across the Asia-Pacific region.
The Phoenix, according to QinetiQ, is also an Australian export, with 24 systems delivered internationally. This includes three to the New Zealand Navy, three to the Royal Thai Navy, 18 to the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN), with a further nine systems to be delivered in 2025.
The Phoenix continues to increase military readiness, operating in South Africa since 2017 for the Royal Singapore Air Force and in Germany for their armed forces.