Munitions can face a diverse environment during their lifecycle so it is essential to ensure that they are safe and suitable for use. Under the LTPA, QinetiQ can safety-test munitions, ordnance and weapons systems. Accident impact assessment can also be undertaken to understand how munitions will respond as a result of an accident, e.g. a fuel fire.

Capabilities include:

• Defence Ordnance Safety Group (DOSG) qualification tests
• ESTC classification tests
• Fast heating (fuel fire) tests
• Sympathetic detonation tests
• Rough handling and drop tests
• Slow heating (cook-off) tests
• Bullet attack tests
• Fragmentation and spall impact tests
• Spigot intrusion tests
• Environmental test of full-scale live weapons including (1000kg NEQ limit): vibration, shock and handling tests, diurnal cycling testing, temperature, humidity, pressure, sand and dust, rain (driving and free-fall), and immersion tests (fresh water and salt water)
• Detailed post-test analysis of components
• Crew protection of vehicles: buried mine, off-route mine and projectile attack

Munitions Safety and Suitability for Service testing is available at:

• MOD Eskmeals
• MOD Pendine
• MOD Shoeburyness