Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Thales UK have partnered to offer the SEA SERPENT anti-ship and anti-surface missile solution for the Royal Navy.
The capability could be equipped on the navy’s Type-23 frigates to respond to growing current and emerging threats. It has been developed based on the GABRIEL family of surface-to-surface missiles.
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According to IAI, the SEA SERPENT delivers highly penetrative, combined anti-ship and land attack capabilities at ranges exceeding 200km.
It deploys an innovative RF seeker head and a ‘sophisticated data analysis and weapon control system’ to detect targets accurately, as well as discriminate and classify them.
IAI said that SEA SERPENT can adjust its course or re-task in flight based on real-time intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) feeds.
The solution delivers significant Military Off-the-Shelf Solution (MOTS) benefits ‘in terms of cost, time-to-procurement, entry into operational service and risk reduction’.
IAI noted that SEA SERPENT has been developed simultaneously with similar missile systems that are in service with the Israeli Navy.
It was selected by Finland to provide strike capabilities for the country’s SSM2020 programme.
IAI said in statement that it ‘looks forward to partnering with Thales in the UK’s proven track record of delivering complex sensor and weapon solutions for the Royal Navy and other navies’.
The partnership will make use of UK industry content and expertise for the delivery, through-life maintenance and support, and future development of updates to solution in the UK.
