The Royal Navy has successfully completed a trailblazing test using a new laser-guided helicopter missile to obliterate a drone over the Bristol Channel. In an unprecedented air-to-air trial, the Martlet missile scored a direct hit on a Banshee jet – simulating a small jet fighter aircraft – which was hurtling through the sky at a high speed.
This weapon, initially devised to neutralise threats like jet skis, is set to revolutionise the Navy’s defences against unmanned aircraft. Members of the 815 Naval Air Squadron executed the trial, capturing the dramatic takedown in cockpit footage.
Notably, it marked the first occasion a Wildcat helicopter has identified, tracked, and struck a drone singlehandedly. Conducted across two days, the ground-breaking trial took place at the Air Defence Range (ADR) Manorbier near Tenby in Wales.
The autonomous Banshee drone served as a moving target for the precision-guided firepower of the Wildcat, with the event being meticulously recorded on video. Initially acquired to combat nimble sea targets such as jet skis and speedboats, the missile’s capability has been impressively extended.
Commander James Woods, leading officer of the 815 Naval Air Squadron, expressed his enthusiasm: “This is a fantastic development for the Wildcat HMA 2 helicopter and a significant advancement in maritime strike capability for the Royal Navy that further refines our ability to deter and neutralise airborne threats.”
Lieutenant Dave Guest, a Wildcat pilot involved in the test, emphasised the importance of the success: “It’s really important that we can demonstrate the Wildcat’s effectiveness in engaging targets such as uncrewed systems – and that we can do so on our own, without requiring the assistance of other assets.”
“Martlet is a highly-capable – and also cost-effective – weapon in our arsenal, ideal for this, while Banshee is representative of the challenges we face globally, particularly in the Red Sea.”
Earlier in the year, a Wildcat from 815 Naval Air Squadron was operational aboard HMS Diamond, tasked with countering the threat of drones launched by Houthi rebels targeting maritime traffic in the Red Sea and Gulf of Yemen.
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