THE Navy has successfully test-fired a new laser-guided missile to thwart lethal drone attacks.
It has shown the air-to-air potential of the Martlet, which was built to destroy fast- attack craft and speedboats.
Crew on a Wildcat chopper tracked a Banshee drone flying at hundreds of miles an hour over the Bristol Channel.
They launched a Martlet and filmed it smashing into its target.
Commander James Woods, commanding officer of 815 Naval Air Squadron, said: “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.”
Wildcat pilot Lieutenant Dave Guest said: “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.”
This year a Wildcat was deployed aboard destroyer HMS Diamond while facing the threat of drones fired by Houthi rebels at shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Yemen.
Last month, The Sun revealed a powerful task group of stealth jets and warships had gathered off the coast of Scotland to carry out military drills for “Exercise Strike Warrior”.
The UK Carrier Strike Group, with HMS Prince of Wales as its focal point, was completing critical preparations for a major global deployment in 2025.
It was in preparation for the Carrier Strike Group 25 deployment, which would send British warships, support vessels and jets across the world.
It was set to be the first mission of its kind since HMS Queen Elizabeth led a 49,000-mile mission to Japan and back in 2021.
