Watch as a Royal Navy warship fires a powerful new missile capable of wiping out enemy ships more than 100 miles away.
Frigate HMS Somerset carried out the first UK test of the weapon during a dramatic Arctic exercise off Norway.
SWNSA Royal Navy warship fires a powerful new missile[/caption]
SWNSIt is capable of wiping out enemy ships more than 100 miles away[/caption]
SWNSFrigate HMS Somerset carried out the first UK test of the weapon during a dramatic Arctic exercise off Norway[/caption]
The Plymouth-based vessel unleashed the cutting-edge Naval Strike Missile (NSM) at the Andøya rocket range.
The launch was part of Exercise Aegir 25 – a joint operation alongside Norwegian and Polish allies.
The 400kg missile streaked low over the waves before smashing its target at close to supersonic speed.
The NSM can hit ships or land targets while skimming the sea to avoid radar detection.
It has a range of over 100 miles and is a massive upgrade on the ageing Harpoon missiles currently used by the Royal Navy.
The Royal Navy hailed the firing as a huge step forward.
They said: “The successful missile launch marks a major milestone on the journey to make the Royal Navy more lethal – and is demonstration of the strong bilateral cooperation between the UK and Norway.”
The weapon is already in service with Norway, the US and Poland.
Defence Minister Luke Pollard said the missile would give Britain’s fleet a deadly edge.
He said: “The NSM is one of the most advanced missiles in our naval arsenal. It will give the Royal Navy and our allies an edge against our enemies.”
“This milestone, achieved through our exemplary international partnership with Norway, significantly enhances our maritime deterrent and underscores the Government’s dedication to investing in the technologies that will maintain Britain’s secure.”
HMS Somerset’s skipper, Commander Matt Millyard, praised his crew for pulling off the complex firing.
He said: “I am very proud of the team following the successful first of class firing of the Naval Strike Missile.
“This is not something that comes together easily and has involved an incredible amount of work by the crew and staff from across the defence enterprise.
“The professionalism and teamwork demonstrated by all throughout the planning and execution has been exemplary.”
The firing followed months of preparation, including detailed alignment checks and sea trials.
Experts from Norwegian manufacturer Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace joined the ship to help set up the system.
The Royal Navy said the NSM will work alongside the future “Cruise Anti-Ship Weapon” – the heavy-duty missile to be fitted on next-generation Type 26 and Type 31 frigates.
Commander Matthew Cox, NSM Programme Director, said: “This programme showcases the strong UK-Norwegian strategic partnership, enabling the UK to achieve its first ship installation within 12 months of business case approval – an unprecedented pace for a complex weapons programme.
“The UK’s first NSM firing, hosted by Norway at Andøya, further highlights this enduring collaboration.”
So far, HMS Somerset, HMS Richmond and HMS Portland have all been fitted with the deadly new weapon.
Exercise Aegir 25 runs until the end of September, with allies carrying out further missile launches from land and sea.
The successful missile launch marks a major milestone on the journey to make the Royal Navy more lethal
SWNSHMS Somerset’s skipper, Commander Matt Millyard, praised his crew for pulling off the complex firing[/caption]
SWNSThe firing followed months of preparation, including detailed alignment checks and sea trials[/caption]
SWNSDefence Minister Luke Pollard said the missile would give Britain’s fleet a deadly edge[/caption]