Inzpire, in collaboration with its QinetiQ colleagues and the Royal Navy's Fleet Operational Standards and Training (FOST) team, has successfully delivered Exercise Sharpshooter tailored to the requirements of the Dutch Navy's HNLMS Evertsen.
Taking place from 15th -17th December at MOD Aberporth in Wales, a QinetiQ operated site, this marked the first international delivery of Sharpshooter, showcasing Inzpire's ability to provide advanced maritime training to NATO allies.
The exercise included both live and synthetic training tailored to the evolving threat landscape the Dutch Navy could face during global deployments and operations.
With training delivered throughout the day and night, the ship faced static sea targets and dynamic uncrewed aerial and surface vehicles including QinetiQ's Banshee Whirlwind and Hammerhead.
In a scenario focused on the defence of critical infrastructure in contested waters, Inzpire's tactical specialists integrated these live elements with synthetic threats, including cruise and ballistic missile profiles and aircraft simulations. This fully tested the ship team’s internal and external operating procedures from initial detection to neutralisation. Inzpire delivered the synthetic environment via Link 16, enabled by Metrea’s mobile tactical data link capability, which was essential to the success of the synthetic profiles.
Inzpire's White Force team was positioned at both the MOD Aberporth range head and onboard HNLMS Evertsen to orchestrate the scenario to ensure maximum training value was maintained, increasing complexity as required to meet mission objectives.
Commander Marcel Keveling, Royal Netherlands Navy, said:
“HNLMS Evertsen and the Royal Netherlands Navy are grateful to have trained on such an immersive level. To be able to fire at live targets and keep our crew in a higher state of readiness for multiple days has taught us many lessons we aim to take with us when sailing on an operational level. Especially in the ever-changing world of today we find it important to train as realistically as possible, this exercise was a prime example of that.”
Dean Scales, Exercise Director, Inzpire said:
“Exercise Sharpshooter isn't about theoretical preparation, it’s about delivering practical readiness shaped by genuine operational requirements and experience, ensuring personnel aren't just trained, but truly prepared for whatever challenges tomorrow's complex battlespace may bring. We were delighted to extend these critical training capabilities to our NATO allies.”
Since 2019, QinetiQ has supported the UK Royal Navy FOST team with the development of its basic weapons training exercise into the Exercise Sharpshooter series. Inzpire’s scenario design expertise has helped to transform Sharpshooter from a weapons functionality exercise into a comprehensive force generation exercise that prepares personnel and ships to be combat-ready for national tasking and global operations.
The exercise provides the highest of standards in lethality-based training, teaching crews to use weapons effectively and accurately against dynamic threats. The Sharpshooter team has demonstrated its ability to deploy this capability worldwide, having recently supported the Carrier Strike Group (CSG) and NATO allies in the Mediterranean Sea during Exercise MedStrike, which tested the resolve of the CSG prior to deploying for Highmast 2025.
Founded in 2005, and part of the QinetiQ Group since 2018, Inzpire is an award-winning supplier of advanced defence training, technical services and products. We are a trusted partner of the UK MOD, employing highly experienced former military personnel alongside engineers and business professionals to deliver capable solutions across defence, public and private sectors.
QinetiQ is an integrated global defence and security company focused on mission-led innovation. We employ c.8,000 highly skilled people, committed to creating new ways of protecting what matters most; testing technologies, systems, and processes to make sure they meet operational needs; and enabling customers to deploy new and enhanced capabilities with the assurance they will deliver the performance required. Visit our website www.QinetiQ.com.
Metrea is the leading provider of effects-as-a-service to national security partners across multiple domains and over a dozen mission-centric solution areas, including airborne ISR, aerial refueling, electronic warfare, secure communications, space-based ISR and advanced simulation. Metrea is headquartered in Washington, DC with facilities across the United States, the United Kingdom, and the EU. Find out more at www.metrea.aero.
