Royal Navy clears Sea Venom anti-ship missile for front-line use
A Wildcat helicopter seen carrying the Sea Venom on the outer hardpoint of its weapons wing, with Martlets on the inner hardpoint. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)
The UK Royal Navy has declared initial operating capability (IOC) for the MBDA Sea Venom, clearing the anti-ship missile for operational use.
Announced by the service on 2 October, the declaration of IOC means that the Leonardo AW159 Wildcat HMA2 maritime helicopter can now employ the weapon that it carries on its weapons wings.
“The introduction of [the] Sea Venom is a step-change in our combat power. It delivers a lethal combination of precision, reach, and flexibility that allows us to strike decisively against a wide spectrum of threats in the maritime, coastal, and land domains,” Commanding Officer of 815 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) Commander James Woods said. “Most importantly, it gives us the ability to neutralise those threats at range. This is a transformational capability for the Fleet Air Arm and ensures that we are ready to defend and protect NATO and allied interests at home and abroad.”
As noted in the announcement, IOC was achieved during Operation ‘Highmast', which is the RN's mission to the Indo-Pacific led by the HMS Prince of Wales flag ship. Four Wildcats from the 815 NAS are armed with the Sea Venom on the deployment, spread across the Carrier Strike Group on the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier, HMS Dauntless Type 45 air-defence destroyer, and Royal Norwegian Navy frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen.
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