Official announcements or press releases from the Royal Navy or UK Ministry of Defence

Royal Navy's Wildcat Helicopter Destroys Banshee Drone Over Bristol Channel in First Air-to-Air Trial

Nov 3, 2024, 01:21 AM

The Royal Navy has successfully conducted a first-of-its-kind air-to-air trial where a Wildcat helicopter equipped with the Martlet missile engaged and destroyed a fast-moving Banshee drone flying at hundreds of miles per hour over the Bristol Channel. The Martlet missile, a state-of-the-art lightweight multirole missile, has now given the Royal Navy's Wildcat helicopters a proven air-to-air capability. This trial demonstrates the effectiveness of the Martlet missile in intercepting high-speed aerial targets, significantly enhancing the Royal Navy's operational capabilities.