Credit: Royal Navy
This is the minute the Royal Navy obliterated a drone flying at quite a few miles an hour using a brand-new helicopter projectile in a first-of-its-kind take a look at.
The stress discharged a Martlet projectile from a Wildcat struggle helicopter to take away a Banshee drone over the Bristol Channel.
The take a look at, which recently occurred at RAF Manorbier in South Wales, notes an important renovation within the safety versus the “very modern threat” of adversary drones, the Royal Navy said.
It adheres to a present strike on a Wildcat helicopter launched aboard destroyer HMS Diamond, which was repetitively focused by drones made use of by Houthi rebels within the Red Sea and Gulf of Yemen.
Speaking at RAF Manorbier, Wildcat pilot Lieutenant Dave Guest said the potential to get drones with out outdoor assist was a contribution to the Royal Navy’s safety toolbox.
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.”
During the two-day take a look at, the Royal Navy launched the impartial Banshee drone because the goal for the Wildcat and its projectiles.
After being launched via a ramp, the Banshee crossed the variability with the Wildcat positioned to impede.
Pilots manning the Wildcat after that discharged the brand-new Martlet projectile to take the drone down.
Lt Guest said: “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.”
Commander James Woods, regulating policeman 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 made to contain a wide range of vessels, consisting of submarines, and flaunts an air-to-air capability typically restricted to fast jets, the Royal Navy said.
The helicopter runs from Royal Navy frigates, destroyers and assault plane service, and does a wide range of capabilities from sustaining search procedures and finding drug-runners relocating at broadband all through the ocean, to ferrying troopers, units, and workers about, and finishing up saves when wanted.
Martlet is a lightweight, laser-guided projectile initially launched for utilization versus tiny and manoeuvrable targets comparable to fast strike craft, jet skis, and speedboats.
Broaden your views with prize-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph cost-free for 3 months with countless accessibility to our prize-winning website, particular utility, money-saving offers and much more.
