A significant milestone towards arming Royal Navy maritime attack helicopters with ship-busting missiles has been achieved.
Initial Operating Capability (IOC) has been met for the anti-ship Sea Venom missile, meaning it can now be deployed with Wildcat helicopters on front-line duties.
A Wildcat can carry up to four Sea Venoms, giving it the ability to strike multiple targets in a single sortie or unleashing a salvo against one target.
It carries enough destructive power to target larger warships – like corvettes and patrol ships – while the Wildcat also carries the lightweight Martlet missile for taking out boat swarms and smaller vessels.
IOC was achieved during Operation Highmast – the Royal Navy’s global mission to the Indo-Pacific led by flagship HMS Prince of Wales.
Four Wildcats from 815 Naval Air Squadron are armed with Sea Venom on the deployment, spread across the Carrier Strike Group on carrier HMS Prince of Wales, destroyer HMS Dauntless and Norwegian frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen.
Commanding Officer of 815 Naval Air Squadron, Commander James Woods, said: “The introduction of Sea Venom is a step-change in our combat power.
“It delivers a lethal combination of precision, reach, and flexibility that allows us to strike decisively against a wide spectrum of threats in the maritime, coastal, and land domains.
“Most importantly, it gives us the ability to neutralise those threats at range. This is a transformational capability for the Fleet Air Arm, and ensures that we are ready to defend and protect NATO and Allied interests at home and abroad.”
Sea Venom provides the long-range armament of the Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon (FASGW) programme, with the short-range capability delivered by the Martlet missile, which is already in service.
It is an advanced weapon, which can utilise an ‘operator-in-the-loop’, who can make real-time adjustments mid-flight to control the trajectory of the missile.
An infra-red image is transmitted from up to four weapons simultaneously back to the operator, allowing them to control targeting.
The missile is optimised for use against large coastal patrol vessels and corvettes. It is also capable of engaging coastal installations and land-based targets with a high degree of accuracy.
Commander UK Carrier Strike Group, Commodore James Blackmore, said: “Achieving Initial Operating Capability with Sea Venom is another milestone in ensuring the Carrier Strike Group remains a world-class, combat ready force.
“It strengthens our ability to safeguard the maritime environment, reassure allies, and deters adversaries. This capability ensures our aircrew can operate with confidence against a wide spectrum of threats, reinforcing the UKs commitment to delivering decisive air power at and from the sea.”
Commander of the Wildcat Maritime Force, Commander Andrew Henderson, added: “The integration of Sea Venom into a Ship’s Wildcat Flight at sea represents a significant enhancement to the Royal Navy’s lethality via its ability to strike targets at range.
“It’s precision, range, and versatility ensures that our frontline crews are equipped to meet the challenges of a multi domain and complex environment.”
