Royal Navy shoots down drone flying at hundreds of miles an hour

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Royal Navy shoots down drone flying at hundreds of miles an hour

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Credit: Royal Navy

This is the moment the

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shot down a drone flying at hundreds of miles an hour using a new helicopter missile in a first-of-its-kind trial.

The force fired a Martlet missile from a Wildcat combat helicopter to take down a

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over the Bristol Channel.

The trial, which recently took place at RAF Manorbier in South Wales, marks an important improvement in the defence against the “very modern threat” of ****** drones, the Royal Navy said.

It follows a recent ******* on a Wildcat helicopter deployed

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, which was repeatedly targeted by drones used by

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in the Red Sea and Gulf of Yemen.

Speaking at RAF Manorbier, Wildcat pilot Lieutenant Dave Guest said

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without outside assistance was a significant addition to the Royal Navy’s defence arsenal.

He 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.”

Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter taking off carrying Martlet missiles – Mark Johnson/Royal Navy/PA

During the two-day trial, the Royal Navy deployed the autonomous Banshee drone as the target for the Wildcat and its missiles.

After being launched via a ramp, the Banshee moved across the range with the Wildcat poised to intercept.

Pilots manning the Wildcat then fired the new Martlet missile to take the drone down.

Lt Guest said: “Martlet is a highly-capable – and also cost-effective – ******* in our arsenal, ideal for this, while Banshee is representative of the challenges we face globally, particularly in the Red Sea.”

The Royal Navy successfully trialled a new laser-guided helicopter missile to ****** down a drone in the Bristol Channel – The Royal Navy/SWNS

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.”

The Wildcat is designed to engage a range of vessels, including submarines, and boasts an air-to-air capability usually restricted to fast jets, the Royal Navy said.

The helicopter operates from Royal Navy frigates, destroyers and aircraft carriers, and performs a range of roles from supporting search operations and tracking down *****-runners moving at high speed across the ocean, to ferrying troops, equipment, and personnel around, and conducting rescues when necessary.

Martlet is a lightweight, laser-guided missile originally deployed for use against small and manoeuvrable targets such as fast ******* craft, jet skis, and speedboats.

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