UK Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon achieved a milestone with the first successful Sea Viper live firing against a supersonic target in test off Scotland.
The missile firing was conducted during Europe’s multinational live-fire integrated air and missile defence (IAMD) exercise – Formidable Shield 25.
Scheduled from 1-31 May 2025, Formidable Shield 25 is a live-fire naval exercise.
HMS Dragon commanding officer commander Iain Giffin said: “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.”
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By GlobalDataThe Sea Viper that was fired was a telemetry variant, intended to capture and log critical data for the purpose of enhancing subsequent missions, said the Navy.
The missile reached over Mach 4 in just two and a half seconds. It manoeuvred at extreme G-forces to intercept and destroy the target.
Integrated with Sampson radar and the Aster missile system, the Sea Viper system is capable of tracking and neutralising threats across a vast airspace from the Hebrides range in western Scotland.
In January 2024, MBDA UK was contracted to enhance the Sea Viper capability on board Type 45 warships. Upgrades to the Sea Viper system are being implemented to equip it with Ballistic Missile Defence capabilities, enabling it to address increasingly sophisticated threats. These enhancements also lay the groundwork for additional improvements, ensuring that future systems can be developed with expanded capabilities.
The upgrade program for the Type 45 destroyer fleet is projected to achieve complete operational functionality by autumn 2032.
Exercise Formidable Shield involves naval forces from ten allied nations, engaging in combat scenarios against a range of targets, including uncrewed air and surface systems, subsonic, supersonic, and ballistic missiles.
The exercise aims to prove the combined combat effectiveness of allied ships, land-based air defences, and air forces.
The month-long exercise, which engages nearly 7,000 personnel, began at the Andøya firing range in Norway and continued at the Hebrides range.
Participants are expected to launch missiles throughout the exercise, demonstrating their readiness and collaborative defence capabilities.
Previously, HMS Dragon had undergone extensive modifications in Portsmouth in early 2024.
