Latest news with #FormidableShield25
Scottish Sun
16-05-2025
- Science
- Scottish Sun
Watch incredible moment a Royal Navy warship destroys a supersonic missile off Scots coast
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THIS is the incredible moment a Royal Navy warship obliterated a supersonic missile off the coast of Scotland. It is the first time ever that one of the UK's most advanced warships successfully destroyed a supersonic missile. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Sea viper Live firing against a supersonic sea-skimming target Credit: Royal Navy 3 This is the first time in Royal Navy history that this has been achieved Credit: Royal Navy 3 HMS Dragon at Sea off the West Coast of Scotland Credit: Royal Navy The Royal Navy was carrying out a test around the Hebrides in the west of Scotland when the missile firing took place. The test is part of a massive exercise known as Exercise Formidable Shield 25, which is the largest one in Europe this year. Exercise Formidable Shield 25 involves almost 7,000 personnel and is designed to test Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon's ability to defend herself and other ships around her from attack, including from swarms of drones. And yesterday, the Portsmouth-based ship launched a specially-modified Sea Viper missile at an incoming high-speed target in a burst of fire and smoke. It was a test that was emulating the kind of advanced threats seen around the globe today. It is the first time that the Royal Navy has faced down a target like this that is significantly more challenging, as it flies faster and carries out corkscrew and weave manoeuvres. The successful Sea Viper firing as part of Formidable Shield 25 is a huge moment for HMS Dragon Commander Iain Giffin The Sea Viper launched was a special telemetry version, which is specifically designed to record measurements and valuable data which will help inform future operations. Just two and a half seconds after being blasted from HMS Dragon's silo, the missile accelerated to more than four times the speed of sound – otherwise known as Mach 4. It flew high above the water before then manoeuvring at G-forces that no human being could withstand before closing in and destroying the target. Commander Iain Giffin, HMS Dragon's Commanding Officer, said: "The successful Sea Viper firing as part of Formidable Shield 25 is a huge moment for HMS Dragon. Watch incredible unmanned submarine-hunting helicopter dubbed Proteus as drone set for Royal Navy trials in just months 'Not only does it prove that Dragon's world-leading air defence capability functions as it should following an extensive maintenance period, but it also proves our ability to integrate and operate 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.' Sea Viper is the combination of the Sampson radar system and the Aster missile system which sits in a silo on the ship's forecastle. It tracks aircraft and other objects across thousands of cubic miles of airspace over the Hebrides range in western Scotland. It then uses this information to identify threats and destroys them when necessary. Seeing how far Dragon has progressed, both within the Warfare Department as well as the wider ship, is impressive Lieutenant Commander Sarah Kaese Lieutenant Commander Sarah Kaese, Dragon's Senior Warfare Officer, who is on exchange from the Royal Australian Navy, called the ship's progress "impressive". She said: "Seeing how far Dragon has progressed, both within the Warfare Department as well as the wider ship, is impressive. 'Formidable Shield has been both a significant challenge and opportunity for Dragon to come together as a warfighting unit and integrate into a task group developing air defence capability.' Formidable Shield sees naval forces battle against uncrewed air and surface systems, subsonic, supersonic and ballistic targets. And it is bringing together allied ships and land-based air defences and air forces, which all work together to prove themselves a credible combined combat power. Almost every participant is due to launch missiles over the course of the month-long workout. The first phase of the exercise took place at the Andøya firing range in Norway, before it moved on to the range in the Hebrides. And it is due to end on Saturday, May 31.
The Herald Scotland
16-05-2025
- Science
- The Herald Scotland
Royal Navy warship destroys missile off the coast of Scotland
Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon launched the Sea Viper missile, which was specially-modified, at an incoming high-speed target. It is the first time the Royal Navy has faced down this kind of target, which is more challenging as it flies faster and carries out corkscrew and weave manoeuvres. 'The successful Sea Viper firing as part of Formidable Shield 25 is a huge moment for HMS Dragon,' Commander Iain Giffin, HMS Dragon's Commanding Officer, said. 'Not only does it prove that Dragon's world leading air defence capability functions as it should following an extensive maintenance period, but it also proves our ability to integrate and operate alongside NATO allies and partners. Read More '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.' Just two and a half seconds after erupting from HMS Dragon's silo, the missile accelerated to more than four times the speed of sound. It then manoeuvred at G-forces which no human being could withstand, to close in and destroy the target. Sea Viper is the combination of the Sampson radar system and the Aster missile system which sits in a silo on the ship's forecastle. The system tracks aircraft and other objects across thousands of cubic miles of airspace over the Hebrides and identifies threats, destroying them when necessary. 'Seeing how far Dragon has progressed, both within the Warfare Department as well as the wider ship, is impressive,' Lieutenant Commander Sarah Kaese, Dragon's Senior Warfare Officer – who is on exchange from the Royal Australian Navy. 'Formidable Shield has been both a significant challenge and opportunity for Dragon to come together as a warfighting unit and integrate into a task group developing air defence capability.' The first phase of the exercise – which involves nearly 7,000 personnel – took place at the Andøya firing range in Norway, before moving on to the Hebrides range.
STV News
16-05-2025
- Science
- STV News
Royal Navy destroyer obliterates supersonic missile off coast of Scotland
In a historic first a Royal Navy destroyer has gunned down a supersonic missile off the coast of Scotland. During a test, the HMS Dragon launched a specially-modified Sea Viper missile near the Hebridean islands at a high-speed target emulating the advanced technology used in war today. The exercise was the first time the Royal Navy has faced the modern-day threat which flies faster and carries out corkscrew and weave manoeuvres. Royal Navy HMS Dragon at Sea off the west Coast of Scotland Just two and a half seconds after firing from HMS Dragon's silo, the Sea Viper missile accelerated to more than four times the speed of sound. It then manoeuvred at G-forces which no human being could withstand, to close in and destroy the target. The training operation is part of the largest live-firing exercise in Europe this year. Royal Navy The first phase of the training exercise is due to end of May 31. The successful Sea Viper firing as part of Formidable Shield 25 is a huge moment for HMS Dragon,' Commander Iain Giffin, HMS Dragon's Commanding Officer, said. 'Not only does it prove that Dragon's world leading air defence capability functions as it should following an extensive maintenance period, but it also proves our ability to integrate and operate 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.' The Formidable Shield joint training exercise sees naval forces battle against uncrewed air and surface systems, subsonic, supersonic and ballistic targets, bringing together allied ships and land-based air defences and air forces. Almost every participant is due to launch missiles over the course of the month-long workout. The first phase of the exercise, which involves nearly 7,000 personnel, took place at the Andøya firing range in Norway, before moving on to the Hebrides range. The training exercise is due to end on May 31. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
NATO kicks off huge drill with 6,000 soldiers and missiles flying over European waters
NATO's most important integrated air and missile defence exercise is taking place in the North Atlantic, North Sea, and Norwegian Sea A colossal defence training exercise, involving the interception of missiles over European waters, has been initiated, drawing on the combined forces of 11 NATO countries and engaging over 6,000 military personnel. Kicking off from regions spanning the North Atlantic, North Sea, and Norwegian Sea is Exercise Formidable Shield 2025, which stands as NATO's premiere integrated air and missile defence drill. Spanning a three-week period, this complex operation is carried out under the leadership of STRIKFORNATO and the US Sixth Fleet. The exercise features live-fire tests to intercept supersonic, subsonic, and ballistic threats, marking one of the most sophisticated air defence training scenarios ever devised. With participants that include the US, the UK, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, and Spain, and Australia contributing radar sensor technology, an impressive count of 16 warships, 27 aircraft, and eight ground-based air defence systems are in active use. These training manoeuvres aim to examine the alliance's proficiency in sensing, tracking, and disarming various airborne dangers through NATO's collaborative command and control frameworks, as well as practising joint responses to missile strikes, reports the Express. Speaking with the UK Defence Journal, Captain Michael Dwan, Task Group 154.64 Commander and representative of the US Navy, underscored the importance of this training: "There is simply no substitute for the training and learning that occurs when we operate in these intensely realistic scenarios. "Exercises like Formidable Shield are critical for refining our collective integrated air and missile defense capabilities, ensuring we can respond effectively to any threat from any direction. "Training as a collective using NATO command and control reporting structure forges the bonds of interoperability and strengthens the alliance as a whole. Exercises like Formidable Shield are critical for refining our collective integrated air and missile defense capabilities, ensuring we can respond effectively to any threat from any direction and maintain a credible deterrent posture. "Operating together is not just a practice, it's the foundation of our shared security," said Commander Welmer Veenstra, a Commanding Officer on De Ruyter. "Exercises like Formidable Shield 25 ensure our forces stay sharp, adaptable, and credible. "Formidable Shield is one of NATO's most important deterrence exercises this year, and also Europe's largest at-sea live-fire exercise in 2025." Sergeant Jonny Karlsen from the Norwegian Joint Headquarters informed High North News. "The war in Ukraine shows the significance of integrated air and missile defense to protect the airspace. By extension, this joint IAMD exercise is very important for Norway and our allies."
