Overview

• Wildcat HMA2 crews fired four Martlets during Exercise Wildfire from 29 September to 2 October and recorded four direct hits on uncrewed aerial and surface targets.
• The trials followed earlier firings at the Aberporth ranges in Wales and included collaborative serials with French destroyers Forbin and Lorraine alongside Rafale, Panther and NH90 aircraft.
• Developed by Thales in Belfast, the lightweight, laser-guided missile accelerates to roughly Mach 1.5 to counter small, fast UAS and uncrewed boats.
• Sea Venom, the heavier anti-ship missile for Wildcat, reached initial operating capability earlier in October to create a complementary two-tier weapons fit.
• The Royal Navy says hundreds of Martlet rounds have been delivered to Ukraine under UK gifting, while a reported £350 million export deal to India supports Northern Ireland jobs.