HMS Dauntless has completed a high-intensity live-fire exercise off the Welsh coast, successfully intercepting waves of drones in a final trial before joining the UK’s upcoming Carrier Strike Group (CSG) deployment to the Indo-Pacific.
During Exercise Sharpshooter, the Type 45 destroyer neutralised dozens of threats—both real and simulated—across air and sea using her full suite of weaponry.
These, say the Royal Navy, included the Phalanx close-in weapon system, 30mm and 4.5-inch guns, and Martlet missiles fired from an embarked Wildcat helicopter.
The five-day drill, involving over 350 personnel from the Royal Navy and defence company QinetiQ, was designed to mirror scenarios like those faced by HMS Diamond in the Red Sea, where the destroyer intercepted multiple Houthi drone and missile attacks.
Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard MP observed the exercise, praising the ship’s performance: “The speed and skill shown by the crew of HMS Dauntless in defending the ship against a complex and sustained series of drone attacks was incredibly impressive.” He added that the exercise was evidence of the Royal Navy’s ability to adapt to evolving threats and work effectively with industry to stay ahead.
The exercise used QinetiQ’s Banshee Whirlwind aerial drones and Hammerhead uncrewed surface vessels to simulate real-world swarm threats. Data gathered from the engagements will support continued refinement of Royal Navy weapons systems.
Commander Ben Dorrington, Commanding Officer of HMS Dauntless, said: “The realism of the exercise and training delivered provided a unique opportunity for the ship’s company to demonstrate they are ready to defend, ready to fight and ready to win.”
BZ Dauntless – Safe deployment guys
Haha Silly inn bread English.
So the British shoot down there own drones and they call it a victory and celebrate with tea and crumpets? You titty little island 🏝️.
They are testing, the same any other country would do.
The US just sailed the Red Sea for testing.
Nothing will be better than real engagement to learn at full speed.
I been wondering whatever happened to those ruthles frigging Brits we had to fight in the Revolutionary War?
So they are training to go and kill children in gaza?
I bet they enjoyed blowing up the hammerheads and banshees
This is in sanity. Are you trying to get us all killed you morons. You worse than morons. You are Satanists
You are nothing but a stupid donut who knows nothing but sprouting rubbish,Why don’t you go down to the beach and have a nice swim in the sea.🏴🤣
Oh I’m a satanist..feeling a little bit offended
Someone forgot their meds. It’s insanity by the way.
As for you Robert Brook……
If you are in Sanity are you in the UK or in mainland Europe ?
As an Australian it’s possible I may carry some of that Sanity in my DNA, but I doubt it.
BTW, just put the question to a few locals and they all agree that Morons are worse than Satanists.
Satanists don’t come to your door in pairs with name tags on their pretty white shirts and attempt to manipulate 50c out of you for a scabby watchtower comic !!!
I believe the official rankings are;
1. Satanists
2. Morons
3. Imbecile
4. Idiot
5. Robert Brook
This is in sanity. Are you trying to get us all killed you morons. You are Satanists
Shut up you fool go bury you’re head in the sand had you two brain cells they would still be lonely bible bashers are the worst spout all kinds of no good crap that means absolutely nothing get a life you glue sniffing nerd
Brilliant 🤣shut up you fool 😅👍haven’t heard that in years!
I’m curious to be sure.
Can you please explain in a language created by a species that breathe and speak at the same time ?
Not expecting grammatical perfection, just try and imagine you’re nor talking to your imaginary Russian pygmy trans-mutant slug devouring slave, but to a real live boy….like Pinocchio.
You have said that twice,Did you have to repeat yourself because you don’t believe what you are saying 😭
Whu would you get killed during a somple test that is always cleared with anyone involved. It is not in sanity it is out sanity.
When the RN run ‘simulated’ attacks like in some of these cases, I wonder, do they allow for a certain percentage of mis-queued/mis-fired missiles and Phalanx misses? Just a thought. I appreciate we’ve moved on from some of the issues I believe we faced with SeaCat and even SeaDart but I dare say there is still the odd malfunction with the target queuing system and/or weapons themselves that any war-gaming might need to make allowances for …. see how the crews react for one, for example.
As with any weapon system, the second thing you teach (after safety), is IA (Immediate Action) drills. What to do in the case of misfires,hang fires electronic and mechanical failures, etc. That is taught and drilled into you before you ever get to actually pull the trigger on any weapon.
AA software reinstated for 4.5″ ?
Might have been against surface targets with that elevation, but I can’t see the shell bursting in the footage.
What’s happened to the laser weapon that a big fuss was made about that supposedly could shoot down dozens of incoming at the same time supposedly costing pence to operate. Not another pie in the sky scheme that costs a lot to develope and then disappears. If it works with the rise of drone warfare you would think it would be put into service asap and treated as if we were at war. I have a feeling it’s not as good as the fanfare made out about it.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/britain-to-fit-laser-weapons-on-four-warships-by-2027/
That laser weapon? That’s (unofficially) already being tested in Ukraine, and is scheduled to be fitted to multiple warships in the near future, that one?
Both the UK and the USA have these. The US already have these fitted to a few ships.
HELIOS: A high-energy laser system developed by the US Navy, designed to neutralize threats like drones, fast attack boats, and even missiles.
DragonFire: A UK-developed laser weapon system that can shoot drones out of the sky.
A quick search gave us the names for each country.
Dunno what OP was trying to say, these either are already on ships, or being trialed in Ukraine.
The US last year shot down in a controlled environment, missles and 2 planes flew by remote. Success in all cases.
I read about China testing that Laser weapon near 15 years ago on a navy ship.
Was probably the same ship that paddled around the coast of Australia some weeks ago. I believe our government responded aggressively with kites, big kites with nasty language printed in bold for all to see.
Being national security, the nasty language wasn’t released to the public but I’m guessing it was Norwegian. Some bizarre linguistics that Norwegian is.
I hear that if you play Norwegian backwards you hear Oden…..
Odenincompoop
Due to be fitted to a UK warship for sea trials this year I believe?
I’ve been wondering about this too – thanks to the replies for the update.
Well done to HMS Dauntless Crew 😏 🚀 🇬🇧
Who needs secrets when it comes Britain’s military weapons capabilities? Why be shy? Sink or swim, let’s sing what we’ve got from the rooftops old chap’s. Just so long as we spend a small fortune and blow (unalive) something to bits. Then, jobs a good-un! Now let’s all sing- “All we are saying,….Is give Laser’s a chance!🎶” ⚡📡⚡🛰️ 💥 🫡🫵✌️
This isn’t Signal, no classified information here.
When war begins switch off all your phones when it’s harder to hit u . Use just phone lines . Possibly 5g and WiFi at home will destroy u . Smart things what u got even a smart meters . U are a target . So remember This.
IPhone can be turned on remotely with black screen so you don’t even know. But why worry about phones, all those covid shots had micro chips, remember? 🙂
So many negative comments, did it Dawn to anyone they might know what they are doing. They are after all 1 of the best military forces in the world.
Well done to the men and women on HMS Dauntless for their excellent defence of our seas,This may just be a practice but it will hone their skills for the real thing.Thankyou to all our military and navy,army and everyone else who keeps this country safe.🏴👍