Watch as a Royal Navy warship fires a robust new missile able to wiping out enemy ships greater than 100 miles away.
Frigate HMS Somerset carried out the primary UK check of the weapon throughout a dramatic Arctic train off Norway.
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The Plymouth-based vessel unleashed the cutting-edge Naval Strike Missile (NSM) on the Andøya rocket vary.
The launch was a part of Train Aegir 25 – a joint operation alongside Norwegian and Polish allies.
The 400kg missile streaked low over the waves earlier than smashing its target at near supersonic pace.
The NSM can hit ships or land targets whereas skimming the ocean to keep away from radar detection.
It has a spread of over 100 miles and is an enormous improve on the ageing Harpoon missiles at present utilized by the Royal Navy.
The Royal Navy hailed the firing as an enormous step ahead.
They stated: “The profitable missile launch marks a significant milestone on the journey to make the Royal Navy extra deadly – and is demonstration of the robust bilateral cooperation between the UK and Norway.”
The weapon is already in service with Norway, the US and Poland.
Defence Minister Luke Pollard stated the missile would give Britain’s fleet a lethal edge.
He stated: “The NSM is likely one of the most superior missiles in our naval arsenal. It should give the Royal Navy and our allies an edge towards our enemies.”
“This milestone, achieved by way of our exemplary worldwide partnership with Norway, considerably enhances our maritime deterrent and underscores the Authorities’s dedication to investing within the applied sciences that may preserve Britain’s safe.”
HMS Somerset’s skipper, Commander Matt Millyard, praised his crew for pulling off the advanced firing.
He stated: “I’m very happy with the group following the profitable first of sophistication firing of the Naval Strike Missile.
“This isn’t one thing that comes collectively simply and has concerned an unbelievable quantity of labor by the crew and workers from throughout the defence enterprise.
“The professionalism and teamwork demonstrated by all all through the planning and execution has been exemplary.”
The firing adopted months of preparation, together with detailed alignment checks and sea trials.
Consultants from Norwegian producer Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace joined the ship to assist arrange the system.
The Royal Navy stated the NSM will work alongside the future “Cruise Anti-Ship Weapon” – the heavy-duty missile to be fitted on next-generation Kind 26 and Kind 31 frigates.
Commander Matthew Cox, NSM Programme Director, stated: “This programme showcases the robust UK-Norwegian strategic partnership, enabling the UK to realize its first ship set up inside 12 months of business case approval – an unprecedented tempo for a posh weapons programme.
“The UK’s first NSM firing, hosted by Norway at Andøya, additional highlights this enduring collaboration.”
Thus far, HMS Somerset, HMS Richmond and HMS Portland have all been fitted with the lethal new weapon.
Train Aegir 25 runs till the top of September, with allies finishing up additional missile launches from land and sea.
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