British warship shoots down drone off coast of Scotland: One of the most sophisticated battleships in the UK successfully destroyed a supersonic missile for the first time.
The missile firing occurred during a test conducted by the Royal Navy in the west of Scotland, near the Hebrides. Participating in Exercise Formidable Shield 25, the biggest exercise in Europe this year, is the test.
Nearly 7,000 soldiers are participating in Exercise Formidable Shield 25, which is intended to test the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon’s capacity to protect herself and other nearby ships from attacks, including drone swarms.
Additionally, in a flash of smoke and fire yesterday, the Portsmouth-based vessel fired a specially modified Sea Viper missile at an approaching high-speed target.
The exercise was simulating the kind of sophisticated threats that are currently present around the world. Because it can fly faster and do corkscrew and weave moves, this is the first time the Royal Navy has encountered a target this difficult.
For HMS Dragon, the successful Sea Viper firing as part of Formidable Shield 25 is a significant event.
The Sea Viper that was released was a unique telemetry model that was made especially to capture measurements and useful information that will guide operations in the future.
The missile reached March 4, or more than four times the speed of sound, just two and a half seconds after being launched from HMS Dragon’s silo.
The commanding officer of HMS Dragon, Commander Iain Giffin, stated: “The successful Sea Viper firing as part of Formidable Shield 25 is a huge moment for HMS Dragon.
“Not only does it prove that Dragon’s world-leading air defence capability functions as it should following an extensive maintenance period, but it also proves our ability to integrate and operate alongside NATO allies and partners.
“Training alongside ships, aircraft and land forces from 11 nations in this complex, multi-domain exercise ensures that we maintain our fighting edge against evolving Hi and Low-tech threats.
The Aster missile system, which is housed in a silo on the ship’s forecastle, and the Sampson radar system work together to form Sea Viper. It monitors thousands of cubic miles of airspace over the western Scottish Hebrides range, tracking aircraft and other things. It then employs this data to detect dangers and eliminates them as needed.
Lieutenant Commander Sarah Kaese, Dragon’s Senior Warfare Officer, described the ship’s development as “impressive” when on exchange from the Royal Australian Navy.
Naval forces fight uncrewed and surface systems, as well as subsonic, supersonic, and ballistic targets, in Formidable Shield.
The drill began at the Andøya firing range in Norway and then proceeded to the Hebrides firing range. Additionally, Saturday, May 31st, is the deadline.