Editing Qinetiq (section)

===Creation and early years===
In early 2001, defence minister [[Lewis Moonie]] announced the creation of QinetiQ via the privatisation of the [[Defence Evaluation and Research Agency]] (DERA). At the time, Moonie stated that the entity would remain a British business, being based in the UK, and that the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] (MoD) would retain a 'special share' in the company, while safeguards would be in place to prevent conflicts of interest.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dr Lewis Moonie: Written Answers |url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wms/?id=2002-12-05.85WS.0 |publisher=QinetiQ |date=5 December 2002 |access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref>

By April 2002, while QinetiQ had taken steps to operate on a commercial basis and saw third parties as its key growth area, 80% of its annual sales was reportedly being derived from the UK MoD. It was observed that QinetiQ's close relationship with the MoD gave it a competitive edge over most private-sector rivals.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1957320.stm |first = James |last = Arnold |title = QinetiQ's new battle |publisher = BBC News |date = 30 April 2002}}</ref>

Initially, QinetiQ was entirely owned by the British government; it was planned for a [[stock market]] flotation of the firm to be conducted sometime during 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/dera-becomes-qinetiq-128623/ |title = DERA becomes QinetiQ |publisher = Flight International |date = 10 April 2001}}</ref> However, this flotation was postponed; according to aerospace industry periodical [[Flight International]], a lack of investor confidence was the principal reason for the delay.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/qinetiq-sell-off-on-hold-as-investor-confidence-fade-144447/ |title = Qinetiq sell-off on hold as investor confidence fades |first = Alexander |last = Campbell |publisher = Flight International |date = 12 March 2002}}</ref>

In late 2002, the [[Carlyle Group]], an American [[private equity]] firm, publicly declared its intention to purchase a large stake in QinetiQ.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/carlyle-moves-in-on-mod-research-organisation-154537/ |title = Carlyle moves in on MoD research organisation |first = Alexander |last = Campbell |publisher = Flight International |date = 10 September 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/carlyle-makes-hay-in-263m-qinetiq-share-sale-158947/ |title = Carlyle makes hay in $263m Qinetiq share sale |publisher = Flight International |date = 10 December 2002}}</ref> In February 2003, the Carlyle Group completed the acquisition of a 33.8% share for £42 million. Prior to QinetiQ's flotation years later, ownership of the firm was divided between the MoD (56%), Carlyle Group (31%) and staff (13%). The Carlyle Group was expected to remain invested in QinetiQ for between three and five years, after which a stock exchange float would take place.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2002/sep/15/businessofresearch.arms |title=For sale to the highest bidder: Britain's secret weapons labs |first=Jamie |last = Doward |work=The Guardian |date=15 September 2002 |access-date=3 April 2015}}</ref>

In September 2004, QinetiQ acquired the US defence companies ''Westar Corporation''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB109512515682217013 |title=QinetiQ Acquires Westar Aerospace In $130 Million Deal |first=Jonathan |last = Karp |date=14 September 2004 |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=3 April 2015}}</ref> and ''[[Foster-Miller]]'', maker of the [[Foster-Miller TALON|Talon]] robot.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2004/11/08/daily21.html |title=QinetiQ caps $163M buy of Foster-Miller |work=Boston Business Journal |access-date=3 April 2015}}</ref> Also in 2004, it acquired ''HVR Consulting Services'' a leading UK-based engineering consultancy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive.dailyecho.co.uk/2004/8/11/24214.html |title=Newsquest – Home |publisher=dailyecho.co.uk |access-date=3 April 2015}}</ref>

In early August 2005, the company announced it would acquire ''Apogen Technologies, Inc.'', pending regulatory approval; according to QinetiQ's website, the purchase came at a cost of $288.0m (£162.7m).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/196151/britains_qinetiq_to_buy_apogen/index.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522052959/http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/196151/britains_qinetiq_to_buy_apogen/index.html|url-status=dead|title=Britain's QinetiQ to buy Apogen|archivedate=22 May 2011}}</ref> In September 2005, the company acquired a 90% share of ''Verhaert Design and Development NV'' (VDD), a Belgian space systems integrator.<ref name=da-20050905>{{cite news |url=http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/62503/qinetiq-buys-belgian-space-firm-(sep-5).html |title=QinetiQ Acquires a 90% Share of Verhaert Design and Development NV |publisher=Briganti et Associés |website=defense-aerospace.com |location=France |date=5 September 2005 |access-date=24 August 2020}}</ref> In October that year, it acquired Broadreach Networks Limited, a supplier of [[Wi-Fi]] internet equipment to the European rail industry,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eetimes.eu/uk/172300114;jsessionid=TNBJKGMVT3JEWQSNDLRSKHSCJUNN2JVN |title=Electronic Engineering Times Europe : Industry News, Learning center, electronic design center – Electronics Eetimes |work=eetimes.eu |access-date=3 April 2015}}{{dead link|date=January 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and in February 2006, it bought Graphics Research Corporation Ltd, developer of the Paramarine software suite of ship and submarine design tools.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theengineer.co.uk/Articles/293667/QinetiQ+buys+software+company.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060321063031/http://www.theengineer.co.uk/Articles/293667/QinetiQ+buys+software+company.htm|url-status=dead|title=QinetiQ buys software company|archivedate=21 March 2006}}</ref>

[[File:Qinetiq Alpha Jet arrives RIAT Fairford 10thJuly2014 arp.jpg|thumb|240px|QinetiQ Dassault/Dornier [[Alpha Jet]] (ZJ647) arrives at [[RAF Fairford]], Gloucestershire, England, for the [[Royal International Air Tattoo]] (2014)]]