The Royal Navy has declared full operational capability (FOC) for the Martlet missile system deployed aboard Wildcat helicopters, marking the completion of an operational testing and integration programme aimed at expanding the weapon’s employment envelope.

Developed by Thales, the lightweight missile entered Royal Navy service in 2020 and has since undergone trials to validate additional operational capabilities. According to the UK Ministry of Defense, the system was originally designed to engage surface targets from altitudes above 500 feet but has now been successfully tested from as low as 50 feet.