QinetiQ US, a leading defense and national security company, celebrated its expansion into Huntsville on Tuesday while also strengthening its commitment to delivering mission-led innovation to key defense and aerospace sectors.

The company marked the milestone with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in partnership with the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce at its new office on Market Street.

This move is more than just a new location — it represents a pivotal step in QinetiQ’s growth strategy. By setting up operations in the Rocket City, the company aims to strengthen its partnerships with defense organizations, support critical military programs, and leverage Huntsville’s wealth of engineering and technical talent.

“This is the launch of a strategy that we started about a year ago,” said Shawn Purvis, President and CEO of QinetiQ US. “We saw that our aerial target platforms were being used by [the Army’s] TSMO, and we felt there was an opportunity to have a stronger partnership with that customer. Instead of just selling the platform, we want to support the full life cycle mission of the aerial target platform.”

This commitment has already proven to be a fruitful one. QinetiQ recently secured the U.S. Army Aerial Target Systems 3 (ATS-3) contract, a prime award that allows the company to expand its services. The contract supports the Army’s Threat Systems Management Office (TSMO) at Redstone Arsenal. With this award, QinetiQ can now offer a broader range of capabilities, including training, mission planning, and payload development.

“The ATS-3 award allows us to have longer, broader conversations with the customer,” said Purvis. “We’re discussing platforms, training, mission needs, and payloads, including applications for electronic warfare and counter-UAS. This gives the Army greater flexibility to fly classified and unclassified missions.”

QinetiQ also plans to tap into Huntsville’s skilled workforce, which boasts one of the nation’s highest concentrations of engineers and technical professionals and is home to more than 80 federal and government services contracts, creating an environment ripe for collaboration. This local talent will be critical as QinetiQ seeks to grow its portfolio of autonomous systems, artificial intelligence capabilities, and robotic solutions.

“Most of our business—around 70%—supports the U.S. Army,” Purvis noted. “We hire over 26% veterans across our company, and we have technologies ranging from autonomous systems and AI to manufacturing and robotic capabilities. This is a great market for us to bring forward those capabilities and expand our partnerships with local businesses and the community.”

QinetiQ’s expansion into Huntsville is just the beginning. The company has outlined an ambitious five-year plan to establish Rocket City as one of its largest operational hubs.

“Our goal is to partner with local businesses and the 80-plus federal agencies here,” said Purvis. “We want to expand our portfolio across all the markets we support, including autonomous capabilities for Army Futures, intelligence support for DHS and DoD, and systems engineering. Over the next five years, we see this location emerging as one of our largest.”

The company’s focus on long-term growth aligns with its mission-led approach to innovation. By combining advanced technologies with strong local partnerships, QinetiQ aims to provide comprehensive solutions that address complex challenges faced by defense and national security organizations.

QinetiQ’s expansion isn’t just about business; it’s also about community. The company is committed to building relationships within Huntsville’s robust defense and aerospace sectors. These partnerships will not only support its customers but also contribute to the local economy and workforce development.

“This is a great market for us to not only support our Army customers but also to establish strategic partnerships with the community,” Purvis said.