Latest news with #IainGiffin
Leader Live
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Wrexham: Road closures confirmed for HMS Dragon parade
Watched by local dignitaries – and hopefully many local residents – the crew of the Type 45 destroyer will march through the heart of the city centre before being hosted at an official reception to cement the bond. Ahead of the parade the ranks will be inspected by Wrexham's Mayor Councillor Tina Mannering, who will also take the salute of the marching sailors at Queens Square alongside Commanding Officer Commander Iain Giffin. Commander Iain Giffin said: 'There is no greater honour that a city can bestow than the Freedom of the City and I humbled that Wrexham has extended this privilege to HMS Dragon. HMS Dragon Ship (Image: Wrexham Council) 'Today is a proud moment for HMS Dragon and a fitting opportunity to demonstrate the professionalism of our sailors, marching in full ceremonial dress, with drums beating, flags flying and bayonets fixed, as a mark of respect and gratitude to the people of Wrexham.' Cllr Mannering, said: 'It will be a tremendous honour to take the salute of the sailors as they march through the city, and I hope as many people as possible will turn out to support the parade. 'This will be a fantastic occasion, as we celebrate our wonderful partnership with HMS Dragon.' Armed Forces Champion, Councillor Beverley Parry-Jones, added: 'Wrexham has always been proud of its links with the armed services and it will be wonderful to welcome the crew to the county borough, so they can celebrate the Freedom of the City. 'HMS Dragon is the first ship affiliated with Wrexham since the Second World War, and we are tremendously proud of this very special relationship.' The sailors will march onto Llwyn Isaf green (outside the Guildhall) at 10.40am, before marching through the city centre. In being named Freemen of Wrexham, the sailors are in select company including Hollywood superstars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. There will be some temporary road closures and access restrictions in place from 10.55am on the day (Friday June 13), including… Chester Street closure There will be a full road closure on Chester Street until 11.15am. During this time, there will be no vehicle access to the following locations via Chester Street: Guildhall Waterworld Memorial Hall Wellbeing Hub Crown Buildings Library Courts Additionally, no vehicles will be able to exit the Guildhall or Library car parks during this period. The remainder of the parade route will be managed via rolling road closures, meaning traffic will be temporarily stopped as the parade passes. This disruption should last approximately 10 to 15 minutes per location. MOST READ During this time, there will be no vehicle access through the city centre bollards – this includes taxis, church access and other usual exceptions. The ship was adopted by Wrexham last summer and civic leaders promptly bestowed their highest honour upon the Portsmouth-based warship and her ship's company. Their hectic schedule – which included a milestone first takedown of a supersonic missile by the Royal Navy during NATO exercises off the coast of northwest Scotland in May – has prevented the ship's company from exercising their right until now. Since then, when Dragon's demanding programme has allowed, the 200-strong ship's company have been preparing for the hometown visit, including undertaking specific drill training to reach the highest standards required for the march.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
One of the Royal Navy's most advanced warships shot down a supersonic missile in 'historic first'
A UK warship shot down a supersonic missile in what the Royal Navy called a "historic first." The HMS Dragon warship "obliterated" the missile in a test off the coast of Scotland. The Type 45 air defense destroyer is one of the UK's most advanced warships. One of the British Royal Navy's most advanced warships, the HMS Dragon, completed a "historic first" when it shot down a supersonic missile in a test off the coast of Scotland on Friday, the force said. The Type 45 air defense destroyer fired a modified Sea Viper missile and "obliterated" an "incoming high-speed target" that was designed to imitate some of the latest and most advanced threats facing the force around the world, the navy said in a press release. It added that it marked "the first time the Royal Navy has faced down this kind of target," which it said was "significantly more challenging as it flies faster and carries out corkscrew and weave manoeuvres." Footage shared by the Royal Navy on X shows the strike, which occurred as part of Exercise Formidable Shield 25, a large-scale NATO live-firing exercise taking place in Norway and the UK this year. Commander Iain Giffin, the commanding officer of the HMS Dragon, said the strike was "a huge moment" for the destroyer. "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," he said. "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 HMS Dragon is a Type 45 destroyer and one of the UK's most advanced warships. It forms part of the Royal Navy's six "Daring Class" destroyers, which were custom-built for anti-aircraft and anti-missile combat. With more than 200 crew, the vessel plays a key role in Britain's air defenses, using its Sea Viper missile system to seek out and neutralise threats. Dragon can also be deployed to provide assistance in disaster relief scenarios and counter-narcotics boarding operations. The UK has been testing out a range of new strike capabilities on its warships in recent years. In 2024, the UK's Ministry of Defence first showed off its new DragonFire laser weapon, with video footage showing it in action off the coast of Scotland. The laser directed energy weapon is a high-power, low-cost weapon system designed to target aerial threats with "pinpoint accuracy," according to the UK government. A UK Ministry of Defence official told Business Insider in March that it was planning to deploy the weapon on four Royal Navy destroyers by 2027. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
17-05-2025
- General
- Business Insider
One of the Royal Navy's most advanced warships shot down a supersonic missile in 'historic first'
One of the British Royal Navy's most advanced warships, the HMS Dragon, completed a "historic first" when it shot down a supersonic missile in a test off the coast of Scotland on Friday, the force said. The Type 45 air defense destroyer fired a modified Sea Viper missile and "obliterated" a high-speed target that was designed to imitate some of the latest and most advanced threats facing the force around the world, the navy said in a press release. It added that it marked "the first time the Royal Navy has faced down this kind of target," which it said was "significantly more challenging as it flies faster and carries out corkscrew and weave manoeuvres." Footage shared by the Royal Navy on X shows the strike, which occurred as part of Exercise Formidable Shield 25, a large-scale NATO live-firing exercise taking place in Norway and the UK this year. Commander Iain Giffin, the commanding officer of the HMS Dragon, said the strike was "a huge moment" for the destroyer. "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," he said. "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 HMS Dragon is a Type 45 destroyer and one of the UK's most advanced warships. With more than 200 crew, the vessel plays a key role in Britain's air defenses, using its Sea Viper missile system to seek out and neutralise threats. Dragon can also be deployed to provide assistance in disaster relief scenarios and counter-narcotics boarding operations. The UK has been testing out a range of new strike capabilities on its warships in recent years. In 2024, the UK's Ministry of Defence first showed off its new DragonFire laser weapon, with video footage showing it in action off the coast of Scotland. The laser directed energy weapon is a high-power, low-cost weapon system designed to target aerial threats with "pinpoint accuracy," according to the UK government. A UK Ministry of Defence official told Business Insider in March that it was planning to deploy its DragonFire laser weapon on four Royal Navy destroyers by 2027.
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.
