UK Navy tests new ‘anti-boat swarm’ missile in Pacific Ocean | UK News

The Royal Navy has examined new missiles that are designed to assist shield plane carriers from assaults by small boats.

Wildcat helicopters fired the light-weight Martlet projectiles throughout an operation within the Pacific area, as a part of the UK Provider Strike Group headed by provider HMS Queen Elizabeth.

The group was not too long ago within the Bay of Bengal to participate in a “big selection of cultural demonstrations and commerce and funding initiatives”.

It was additionally set to participate in “probably the most demanding workouts ever between the UK and India”.

The missiles have been fired by a helicopter from destroyer HMS Defender.

They used a big, pink, inflatable goal floating on the floor of the water – recognized within the navy because the “massive pink tomato”.

Based on the Navy, the missiles indifferent from the plane in 0.3 seconds and accelerated to at least one and a half instances the velocity of sound – roughly 1,151mph.

They’re designed to “shield the UK’s new plane carriers from assaults by swarms of small boats”.

Captain James Blackmore, the Provider Strike Group’s air wing commander, stated: “Martlet is a brand new air to floor light-weight multi-role missile not too long ago launched into service for the Wildcat helicopter and supplies an offensive and defensive functionality towards small boats and maritime targets which will pose a risk to the provider strike group.

“The Wildcat is a phenomenally versatile plane and the inclusion of as much as 20 missiles on every of the 4 embarked plane provides yet one more potent functionality to the Air Wing and the Provider Strike Group.

“This primary firing throughout an operational deployment not solely offers confidence in the long run to finish weapon kill chain but in addition presents an overt demonstration of one of many many strike capabilities supplied by the Air Wing from throughout the activity group.”