QinetiQ's Dragon Runner Robots are Sent to Afghanistan to Support British Troops

FARNBOROUGH, England, November 16 - Responding to an urgent operational requirement QinetiQ, (LSE: QQL) a
leading international supplier of military robots, today announced that it
has been awarded contracts by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to supply
approaching 100 Dragon Runner robots, associated spares and technical
services to support of current military operations in Afghanistan.

Dragon Runner is a small, rugged robot that weighs between 10-20kg
depending on the chosen configuration. It can be easily carried by a soldier
in a backpack and is robust enough to operate in rough terrain to help
protect troops. The variant selected by the UK MOD is equipped with a
manipulator arm to assist with the disarming of improvised explosive devices
but the versatility of the Dragon Runner platform means that it can also be
configured for a variety of other reconnaissance and surveillance operations.
The Dragon Runner robot is also able to operate in sewers, drainpipes, caves
and courtyards to detect danger.

Already being deployed, the all-seeing, all-listening Dragon Runner has
the ability to send back video footage back to the operator at a safe
distance thereby enabling troops to assess a situation prior to moving
forward or entering a structure, potentially safeguarding lives. The
backpack-able Dragon Runner is particularly suited to operational
environments similar to those experienced in Afghanistan where the road
system has been ravaged by almost continuous fighting since the late 1970s
and where many troop movements are conducted either on foot or by helicopter.
The use of robots also has significant benefits in Afghanistan where the
United Nations estimates that 200,000 people have been disabled by landmines
and the explosive remnants of war.

QinetiQ's initial contract with the UK MOD is valued at over GBP12m. This
includes the supply of replacement parts and the provision of support
throughout the operational life of the systems. This is an essential part of
a UK based maintenance and support plan that has been carefully designed to
enable the UK MOD to return battle-damaged robots to active duty as quickly
as possible.

Dragon Runner was originally developed by Automatika, a US company
acquired by QinetiQ North America. The robot has since has been further
developed as a result of UK and US military user input and it can travel at
speeds of around 5mph, travel over rough terrain, as well as climb stairs and
open doors.

The basic chassis is 20cm wide, 7.5cm tall and 23cm in length and can be
easily adapted in the field with various accessories and a manipulator arm to
be mission specific. In addition to IED identification and defeat, other
functions include perimeter security, checkpoint security and the inspection
of suspect vehicles.

"With this very important contract and our work with the UK and US
military, Dragon Runner is set to become a vital tool in military campaigns
throughout the world," said Mary Carver, MD of QinetiQ's Technology Solutions
business. "The majority of the 3,000+ military robots that we have delivered
to our customers so far are being used to disable roadside bombs however
we're now seeing increased demand for military surveillance and
reconnaissance as well as for homeland security and specialist intelligence
operations."

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Visit the website at www.QinetiQ.com

For further information, please contact Douglas Millard in the QinetiQ Press Office on Tel: +44(0)1252-39-4611/3500, Email: DMillard at QinetiQ.com / PressOffice at QinetiQ.com