The claws of the Royal Navy’s Wildcat helicopters have been given a boost with a new order of Martlet missile systems as part of a £176m deal. The delivery will see a significant number of the Martlet maritime anti-surface missile systems delivered to the Fleet Air Arm for use against threats from drones to small, fast attack boats. Weighing only 13kg each, the missiles provide a versatile and precise weapon and were first fired at sea during the UK Carrier Strike Deployment in 2021. Martlet has since supported operations In the Middle East, protecting commercial ships from attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. Hundreds of the missiles have also been gifted to Ukraine, as they have fought to repel the illegal Russian invasion which started in February 2022.
Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle, announced the order at the DE&S stand at Farnborough International Airshow this week. She said: “In a more dangerous world, we must continue to provide weapons to Ukraine but also replenish our own stocks. Our new order of Lightweight Multirole Missiles from Thales UK will support this, providing our Armed Forces with versatile missiles that can be used against threats such as drones, helicopters and small maritime targets. This contract is also a great example of how defence investment can support economic growth and sustain jobs in the UK for years to come.”
Commander Alasdair Lang, Wildcat Maritime Force Commander, said: “The Martlet Missile is crucial in ensuring the Wildcat helicopter remains at the forefront of the RN’s attack capabilities, supporting the protection of shipping and countering more general threats to UK interests across the globe, as most recently demonstrated during deployments to the Red Sea. This announcement underpins the important support provided by DE&S and our industry partners, continuing our strong relationship with them to ensure that frontline maritime Wildcat is suitably equipped.”
DE&S, the MOD’s Defence Equipment and Support arm, completed the order for Thales UK’s lightweight multirole missiles for use by the Royal Navy and wider UK Armed Forces. The order will equip current and future short-range air defence capabilities including for Wildcat helicopters and the British Army’s Stormer combat vehicles. The LMM was developed from the Starburst surface-to-air missile to meet the UK’s “Future Air-to-Surface Guided Weapon (Light)” requirement to equip the Royal Navy’s AW159 Wildcat helicopters and supplement the heavier Sea Venom missile by the engagement of smaller and manoeuvrable naval craftMartlet or the Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM) is a lightweight air-to-surface, air-to-air, surface-to-air, and surface-to-surface missile developed by Thales Air Defence for the United Kingdom. It is named after a mythical bird from English heraldry that never roosts, the Martlet.
