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.
The lower-altitude firing profile is intended to improve operational flexibility in adverse weather conditions and during low-level maritime operations. The Royal Navy said the change also enhances the helicopter’s ability to engage small and medium-sized threats, including fast attack craft and small surface vessels.
In addition to maritime strike missions, the Martlet system has demonstrated effectiveness against aerial targets such as unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and helicopters. The Royal Navy now considers Martlet its primary air-launched effector for counter-UAS, Fast Inshore Attack Craft (FIAC) and strike missions conducted by the Wildcat Maritime Force.
Commander Andrew Henderson , Commanding Officer of the Wildcat Maritime Force, said the achievement represented a significant operational enhancement for the platform. He noted that the missile system had already been employed during operations supporting UK interests in the Middle East, where it was used against both surface and aerial threats.
The Martlet missile is integrated onto the Royal Navy’s AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat helicopter fleet, providing a lightweight precision-guided weapon capability for maritime security and force protection operations.
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