A new test facility is being funded by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to help military kit be better protected against GPS device jamming attempts.

Under the £20 million contract, defence tech firm QinetiQ will build a radio frequency anti-jamming test facility at the MoD’s Boscombe Down site in Wiltshire.

Due to open in 2026, the size of the “silent hangar” will be large enough to fit some of the biggest military assets—including Protector drones, Chinook helicopters, and F-35 fighter jets—at a greater capacity than what currently exists in the UK.

It’s set to be one of the largest facilities in Europe, and roughly the size of an aircraft hangar, simulating hostile environments to put advanced military equipment through its paces.

The specialist hangar will reduce reflections, echoes, and the escape of radio-frequency waves. The GPS simulators and threat emulators inside the chamber will provide the ability to create a number of hostile environments to test how well equipment can withstand jamming, as well as other threats that attempt to confuse or disrupt military assets.

Speaking on it, minister for defence procurement and industry, Maria Eagle, said: “Hostile threats jamming GPS to disorientate military equipment has become increasingly common.

“This cutting-edge test facility will help us eliminate vulnerabilities from our platforms, protect our national security and keep our Armed Forces better protected on global deployments.”

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Will Blamey, chief executive of UK Defence, QinetiQ, added: “On an increasingly digital battlefield, the debilitating effects of electronic warfare are a persistent threat.

“The testing we will conduct using this new facility will be integral to strengthening the resilience of military equipment, which in turn enhances the safety and security of our Armed Forces and the United Kingdom.”

The MoD said that it will also offer a range of opportunities beyond defence, to wider government, industry, and to critical national infrastructure.