QinetiQ, in partnership with the United States Department of Defense and White Sands Missile Range High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility (HELSTF), announced the successful flights of the first two Rattler Supersonic Target MkIs. As part of the High Energy Laser Measurement (HELM) Rattler program and a QinetiQ funded Research and Development project, the flights provided the first data for this design variant of the uncrewed target. It also presented opportunities for the HELSTF Tracking Illuminating Laser System to acquire, track and queue from a supersonic target at a short slant range, aiding the program's Rattler variant development.

Emulating a variety of advanced missile threats, Rattler ST is a cost-effective supersonic target platform designed for threat replication, operational training and system evaluation. QinetiQ is customising the platform to support the U.S. Department of Defense's HELM Rattler Program, integrating a third-party target board to measure high-energy laser characteristics in flight, at supersonic speeds. The $10 million program started in February 2022 and is due to conclude in mid-2024.

QinetiQ's portfolio of targets are built in line with customers' requirements to meet the current and evolving threats that they are needing to defend and train against, delivering realistic Threat Representation.