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A Sea Venom anti-surface missile has successfully completed its first guided live firing from a Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter in the United Kingdom.
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The significant milestone completed at Ministry of Defence Aberporth Range in Wales marks the integration of Sea Venom onto a Wildcat helicopter.
The new offensive capability is expected to be effective against targets up to corvette size, supporting the Royal Navy’s Carrier Strike Group deployment in 2025 and beyond.
“This firing marks a vital step forward in the integration of the Sea Venom missile into what is already an outstanding helicopter to provide the Royal Navy with a world-class capability,” said Commodore Nick Sargent, DE&S’ head of helicopters.
“I am grateful to all those across industry and the Ministry of Defence who have worked so hard to achieve this milestone.”
Sea Venom is a major technological advance, providing precise effects against a wide range of threats, even in complex environments, according to UK MOD.
A high speed, two-way data link communicates the images “seen” by the missile’s infrared seeker to the operator who, in addition to initiating an autonomous engagement, can also remain in control of the missile throughout the full duration of its flight.
This optional, operator-in-the-loop, monitoring and control facility enables new capabilities such as inflight retargeting, final aim point correction and refinement or safe abort.
The live fire trial has been a collaborative effort by the MOD and industry teams around the UK and consisted of a single firing against a single target.
“This successful firing demonstrates the continued development of the Fleet Air Arm’s and Royal Navy’s world-class warfighting capabilities and asserts the Wildcat as the world’s leading Maritime Strike helicopter, capable of intercepting enemy ships at a time and place of the UK’s choosing,” Commodore Naval Aviation, head of the Fleet Air Arm, Commodore Stuart Finn said.
“This capability further increases the already potent warfighting effect delivered by the UK’s Carrier Strike Group. This is another successful collaboration between MOD and industrial partners.”
The Royal Navy introduced Wildcat helicopters into service in 2015. Along with Martlet, Sea Venom ensures the Wildcat helicopter can provide a formidable capability against a range of targets at sea and in the littoral environment.
The missile also has a coastal suppression capability against land targets. Unlike legacy semi-active radar-guided missiles, Sea Venom uses an imaging infrared seeker that offers “fire-and-forget” capabilities in even the most complex littoral environments.
The missile has a 30-kilogram class warhead and a range of around 20 kilometres. It offers a variety of different flight profiles, including sea skimming, and can be salvo fired.
“The successful test firing demonstrates a significant increase in capability and lethality as the Wildcat helicopter remains ready to help defend our Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers and their strike groups now and for years to come,” Wildcat Maritime Force Commander Ali Lang said.
