Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters carry up to 20 missiles for the first time

The Royal Navy’s two new air-to-surface anti-ship missiles, Martlet and Sea Venom, have undergone extensive tests by expert aviators and scientists using an AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat helicopter.

The missiles have ‘exceeded expectations’, and now up to 20 of them can be carried by the Navy’s Wildcat helicopters for the first time.

“It’s a formidable amount of missiles. It is the first time the Wildcat has been proved in this role to carry this amount of ordnance in support of future tasking and is highlighting the Navy’s contribution to allied forces and NATO,” said a Navy source.

Both missiles come under the banner of the Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon. Martlet is a light missile of 13kg, intended for smaller or lightly protected targets, and Sea Venom, which is twice the size, has more than double the range and is for larger, more heavily armoured warships.

The record number of missiles were fitted on ‘weapon wings’ of a specially modified Wildcat from 815 Naval Air Squadron. It was trialled at training ship RFA Argus for a month in the Atlantic, practising take off and landing more than 900 times with different conditions and payloads.

The data from the trials will be analysed then Royal Navy personnel will operate the Wildcats that are armed with the Martlet and Sea Venom missiles on frigates, destroyers, auxiliaries, and Queen Elizabeth-class carriers.

Commander Joe Dransfield, Commander of the Wildcat Maritime Force said it was “a sensational result built on great team working and investment through planning and execution.”

In addition to its use in maritime anti-surface warfare, the Wildcat is also used to carry out search and rescue (SAR) and battlefield utility operations.

Thailand’s navy have expanded their technology with a recent order of maritime drones.