The Royal Navy used both of its newest anti-ship missiles during a joint US-UK live-fire exercise off the Hebrides that ended with the sinking of the decommissioned American frigate USS Klakring, firing the Naval Strike Missile from HMS Portland and Sea Venom from a Wildcat helicopter of 815 Naval Air Squadron operating from her flight deck.
The round Portland fired carried a warhead and was aimed at a real ship rather than a range target, which the service describes as the first Royal Navy firing of a Naval Strike Missile, although HMS Somerset launched one off Norway in September last year.
Lieutenant Commander Louise Kirkaldy, HMS Portland’s principal warfare officer, said: “The successful firing of Naval Strike Missile marks a significant milestone for the Royal Navy, demonstrating our ability to deliver credible, modern maritime strike capability. This achievement reflects the professionalism, dedication and teamwork of all those involved, whose hard work has ensured we remain ready to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.”
Petty Officer James Kenyon, an above water warfare specialist aboard the frigate, fired it. “To be involved in such a high-profile exercise is the highlight of my career,” he said. “Being the first person to fire war-shot Naval Strike Missile and achieve a hit is a very proud moment, and one that will stay with me for the rest of my career. This was the culmination of over a year’s effort in planning and bringing the drills into service, and I am glad that I was able to contribute.”
Commander Dafydd Bryden, the ship’s commanding officer, said: “The opportunity to fire anti-ship missiles against a decommissioned warship is an important test of our warfighting capability. This engagement proved the effectiveness of these systems as well as the sailors and aircrew who operate them. We remain ready to fight and win at sea.”
Sea Venom was fired from the Wildcat during the same serial, and Captain Kelechi Ndukwe, commander of Task Force 65, confirmed to journalists that it was the missile’s first live firing since reaching initial operating capability, and that it hit the target. According to the Royal Navy, the helicopter completed the full kill chain by detecting, identifying and striking the target rather than simply releasing the weapon.
Lieutenant Commander Rhydian Edwards, test and evaluation commander at the Maritime Aviation Strike Operational Advantage Group, said: “This was a landmark moment for the Wildcat Force. For the first time we demonstrated the live firing of an operational Sea Venom missile against a representative maritime target. More importantly, we proved our ability to execute the full maritime strike kill chain under realistic operational conditions.
“This was about giving commanders confidence that Wildcat can find, fix and strike maritime targets using Sea Venom as part of a wider task group. The lessons learned from this activity will directly inform future tactics, training and operational capability development, ensuring Maritime Aviation Strike remains ready to fight and win when called upon.”
The Naval Strike Missile was brought into Royal Navy service under an interim arrangement to replace Harpoon, which left service in 2023, and has been fitted to Type 23 frigates and Type 45 destroyers using equipment transferred between hulls as ships enter and leave refit. Built by Kongsberg, the weapon is a sea-skimming missile with a low radar signature and a range well beyond that of the system it replaced, and it can strike land targets as well as ships. The service says it carries an advanced warhead, travels close to supersonic speeds and can reach targets more than 100 miles away while evading detection by skimming the sea, and that it will be complementary to the Future Cruise Anti-Ship Weapon, intended to become the fleet’s premier long-range anti-ship missile aboard the Type 26 and Type 31 frigates through the Mk41 vertical launch system.
Sea Venom, built by MBDA, is the Wildcat’s principal anti-ship weapon and replaced the Sea Skua carried by the Lynx. The Royal Navy describes it as designed to defeat corvette sized vessels or disable frigates, destroyers and other larger ships, with a Wildcat able to carry four at once, and says it can also be used overland against bunkers, buildings and vehicles. Readers will have seen the same missile turn up this week on a very different platform, fitted by STARK to an uncrewed surface vessel built near Plymouth.
The two British weapons were part of a wider engagement in which USS Paul Ignatius demonstrated the maximum damage and range capability of an anti-surface variant of the Standard Missile 6, and the submarine USS Massachusetts engaged the target with the Mark 48 Advanced Capability Torpedo, which delivered the final hit and sank the ship, as we reported.
Weapons were used in order of reach too we understand, with the longest range ordnance going first. Ndukwe said the American side started with the SM-6 before moving in to shorter range systems, a sequence designed to get the most out of the sensors fitted to the hull for battle damage assessment.
Atlantic Thunder 2026 was led by United States Sixth Fleet and drew in forces from five American task forces alongside the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force and the United States Air Force. Lieutenant Commander Paul Atkins, the United Kingdom lead project officer for the exercise, said: “Atlantic Thunder 26 demonstrated the enduring strength of the UK-US alliance and the close partnership between the Royal Navy and the United States Navy. Operating together in a demanding environment, we showcased our ability to integrate seamlessly, share expertise and deliver a highly capable, interoperable maritime force. Through combined training and operations, we have strengthened our collective warfighting capability, reinforcing our ability to deter potential adversaries and deliver maritime combat power whenever and wherever it is required.”
