In a first, the Royal Navy has successfully test-fired a modified missile against a supersonic target with complex flight patterns, validating its ability to adapt to evolving challenges.
The Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon launched the special telemetry version of the Sea Viper missile. Flying at Mach 4 and moving at G-forces beyond human limits, it hit the target simulating advanced threats that combined high speed with evasive tactics, such as corkscrew and weave maneuvers.
The trial was conducted off Scotland’s coast as part of Exercise Formidable Shield 25, Europe’s largest live-fire naval exercise. It has been running for all of this month in the UK and Norway.
HMS Dragon Commanding Officer Iain Giffin noted that the event proves the warship’s air defense capability and ability to work alongside NATO allies and partners.
“Training alongside ships, aircraft and land forces from 11 nations in this complex, multi-domain exercise ensures that we maintain our fighting edge against evolving Hi and Low-tech threats,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Dragon’s Senior Warfare Officer and Lieutenant Commander Sarah Kaese praised the destroyer’s progress, calling it “impressive.”
HMS Dragon
The HMS Dragon is one of the Royal Navy’s six Daring-class destroyers designed to perform anti-aircraft and anti-missile tasks.
With a 7,350-tonne (16.2 million pounds) displacement and measuring 152 meters (498 feet) long, the warship can sail at 30 knots (55 kilometers/34 miles per hour) for a range of 7,000 nautical miles (8,055 miles/12,964 kilometers).
Its main weapon system is the Sea Viper — also known as the Principal Anti-Air Missile System — which incorporates Aster 15 and 30 surface-to-air missiles from a 48-cell Sylver A50 vertical launcher.
Using an MBDA UK-developed command and control system and BAE Systems’ Sampson multi-function radar, the destroyer can detect threats from over 250 miles (402 kilometers) away.
Sea Viper can fire eight missiles within 10 seconds and guide up to 16 missiles simultaneously.
Meanwhile, the test version was fitted with sensors and telemetry equipment to transmit detailed flight data back to operators during and after the test.
