Royal Navy declares Sea Venom missile ready for use

The Royal Navy has reached a significant step in arming its maritime attack helicopters with ship-busting missiles, after the Sea Venom achieved Initial Operating Capability (IOC).

The missile can now be deployed on front-line duties with Wildcat helicopters, enhancing the Fleet Air Arm’s striking power.

A Wildcat helicopter is able to carry up to four Sea Venoms, allowing it to strike multiple targets in one sortie or fire a salvo against a larger opponent. The weapon has the destructive power to engage major surface combatants such as corvettes and patrol ships, while Wildcats can also carry the lightweight Martlet missile for swarming boats and smaller craft.

The IOC milestone was reached during Operation Highmast, the Royal Navy’s global Indo-Pacific deployment led by HMS Prince of Wales. Four Wildcats from 815 Naval Air Squadron are carrying Sea Venoms on the mission, operating from HMS Prince of Wales, destroyer HMS Dauntless, and the Norwegian frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen.

Commander James Woods, Commanding Officer of 815 Naval Air Squadron, described the new capability as a “step-change” in 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. 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.”

Sea Venom forms the long-range component of the Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon (FASGW) programme, with Martlet fulfilling the short-range role. The missile uses an “operator-in-the-loop” system, transmitting an infra-red image back to the operator from up to four missiles at once, enabling real-time targeting adjustments during flight. Optimised against corvettes and patrol vessels, it can also strike coastal installations and land targets with precision.

Commodore James Blackmore, Commander UK Carrier Strike Group, said the new missile strengthened the Royal Navy’s global reach. “Achieving Initial Operating Capability with Sea Venom is another milestone in ensuring the Carrier Strike Group remains a world-class, combat ready force. It strengthens our ability to safeguard the maritime environment, reassure allies, and deters adversaries. This capability ensures our aircrew can operate with confidence against a wide spectrum of threats, reinforcing the UK’s commitment to delivering decisive air power at and from the sea.”

Commander Andrew Henderson, Commander of the Wildcat Maritime Force, added that the new capability marked a “significant enhancement” to the Navy’s lethality at sea. “Its precision, range, and versatility ensures that our frontline crews are equipped to meet the challenges of a multi domain and complex environment”.