The Royal Navy achieved a significant milestone with the successful first firing of the Sea Venom missile from a Wildcat HMA Mk2 helicopter on October 9, 2024 at the MOD Aberporth range in Wales. The Sea Venom, developed by MBDA, is a lightweight, precision-guided anti-ship missile featuring a 30 kg semi-armor-piercing warhead. It extends the Wildcat’s firepower beyond its Sting Ray torpedoes and Martlet missiles, making it capable of engaging larger warships like corvettes at ranges of up to 20 kilometers. Equipped with an infrared seeker, the Sea Venom ensures accuracy at high subsonic speeds. The recent test involved successfully hitting a target barge with realistic thermal signatures, proving the missile’s effectiveness against maritime threats. This collaboration between Leonardo UK, MBDA, QinetiQ, and the Ministry of Defence marks a major step in enhancing the Royal Navy’s ability to protect its fleet and bolster its Carrier Strike Group missions.
