Latest news with #SeaViper
The Independent
17-05-2025
- The Independent
Dramatic video shows Royal Navy warship HMS Dragon shooting down supersonic missile
Dramatic video shows a Royal Navy warship shooting down a supersonic missile in a 'historic first' for the UK's defence force. HMS Dragon, a Type 45 destroyer based in Plymouth, successfully intercepted a high-speed target designed to mimic the advanced weaponry seen in recent conflicts. The footage shows a burst of fire and smoke as the destroyer uses its Sea Viper anti-air missile system to neutralise the incoming threat, which was capable of complex "corkscrew" and "weave" manoeuvres. The Sea Viper system enabled the Royal Navy to shoot down a ballistic missile in combat for the first time in 2024.
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.
The Independent
17-05-2025
- The Independent
Dramatic video shows Royal Navy warship shooting down supersonic missile
Dramatic video shows a Royal Navy warship shooting down a supersonic missile in a 'historic first' for the UK's defence force. HMS Dragon, a Type 45 destroyer based in Plymouth, successfully intercepted a high-speed target designed to mimic the advanced weaponry seen in recent conflicts. The footage shows a burst of fire and smoke as the destroyer uses its Sea Viper anti-air missile system to neutralise the incoming threat, which was capable of complex "corkscrew" and "weave" manoeuvres. The Sea Viper system enabled the Royal Navy to shoot down a ballistic missile in combat for the first time in 2024.
Times
17-05-2025
- Science
- Times
Royal Navy warship destroys supersonic missile in weapons test
A Royal Navy warship has obliterated a supersonic missile in a historic first for the service in a test off the coast of Scotland. HMS Dragon, a Type 45 destroyer, launched a specially modified Sea Viper missile at an incoming high-speed target. It marks the first time the Royal Navy has faced down such a target — one that is challenging due to its speed and its ability to carry out corkscrew and weave manoeuvres. The Sea Viper launched was a specially modified telemetry version, designed to record measurements and valuable data to inform future operations. The missile firing took place as part of Exercise Formidable Shield, the largest annual live-firing exercise in Europe. The Portsmouth-based ship showcased its ability to defend itself and other
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
Moment British warship obliterates supersonic missile in historic first for the Royal Navy
One of the UK's most advanced warships has obliterated a supersonic missile in a historic first for the Royal Navy in a test off the Scottish coast. In a burst of fire and smoke, Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon launched a specially-modified Sea Viper missile at an incoming high-speed target which was emulating advanced threats similar to those seen globally today. It marks the first time the Royal Navy has faced down a target of this kind, being significantly more challenging as it flies faster and carries out corkscrew and weave manoeuvres. The Sea Viper launched was a special telemetry version, designed to record measurements and valuable data to inform future operations. The missile firing took place as part of the largest live-firing exercise in Europe this year - known as Exercise Formidable Shield 25 - which is proving the Portsmouth-based ship's ability to defend herself and other ships around her from attack, including from swarms of drones. HMS Dragon's Commanding Officer said: 'The successful Sea Viper firing as part of Formidable Shield 25 is a huge moment for HMS Dragon. '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. In a burst of fire and smoke, Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon launched a specially-modified Sea Viper missile at an incoming high-speed target which was emulating advanced threats similar to those seen globally today '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 - otherwise known as Mach four. High above the water, it then manoeuvred at G-forces which no human being could withstand, to close in and eventually destroy the target. Sea Viper is the combination of the Sampson radar system, the distinctive spinning spiked ball on top of a Type 45 destroyer's main mast, and the Aster missile system which sits in a silo on the ship's forecastle. The system works to track aircraft and other objects across thousands of cubic miles of airspace over the Hebrides range in western Scotland, identifies threats, and destroys them when necessary. Lieutenant Commander Sarah Kaese, Dragon's Senior Warfare Officer - who is on exchange from the Royal Australian Navy, 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. Bringing together allied ships and land-based air defences and air forces, they all work together to prove themselves as a credible combined combat power. Over the course of the month-long workout, which ends on May 31, almost every participant is due to launch missiles. 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.
