British Wildcat helicopter demonstrates Sea Venom missile capabilities in first test.

According to information published by the UK MoD on October 9, 2024, the Royal Navy's Wildcat helicopter has successfully conducted its first live guided firing of the Sea Venom anti-ship missile. The trial took place at the MOD Aberporth range in Wales, where the missile was launched against a designated target.
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Royal Navy's Wildcat helicopter firing Sea Venom missile. (Picture source: UK MoD)

The successful test represents a major step in enhancing the Wildcat's offensive capabilities, enabling it to engage surface threats up to the size of corvettes. This capability is set to bolster the Royal Navy's firepower as it prepares for future Carrier Strike Group deployments, including those planned for 2025 and beyond.

Sea Venom is equipped with an imaging infrared seeker, which provides "fire-and-forget" functionality, allowing the missile to autonomously pursue targets. Additionally, a high-speed, two-way data link enables operators to monitor and adjust the missile's trajectory during flight, allowing for retargeting, refining aim points, or aborting the mission if necessary.

The live firing trial was a collaborative effort involving various organizations, including Leonardo Helicopters, MBDA, QinetiQ, and the UK Ministry of Defence.

The Sea Venom's integration on the Wildcat is intended to complement other missile systems, such as the Martlet, providing a robust strike capability for the helicopter. The Wildcat helicopters have been in service since 2015, serving a key role in the Royal Navy's aviation fleet, including the defense of Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.

Sea Venom missile vs Martlet missile

The Sea Venom and Martlet missiles, both integrated onto the Royal Navy's AW159 Wildcat helicopters, are part of the Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon (FASGW) program. Although both serve air-to-surface roles, they are designed for different types of targets and operational needs.

Sea Venom is a larger, more capable missile intended to engage medium to larger naval vessels, such as patrol craft and corvettes. It has a range of approximately 20 km and features a 30 kg warhead, which is significantly more powerful than the Martlet’s. The missile is equipped with an infrared seeker and data-link guidance, allowing for "man-in-the-loop" control during flight, enabling real-time target updates. Its sea-skimming capability reduces the chance of detection, making it effective against heavily defended targets. The Sea Venom also supports multiple attack profiles, including top-attack and sea-skimming modes, making it versatile against various target types and conditions.

Conversely, the Martlet is a lightweight missile designed for fast, agile engagement of smaller and lightly protected targets, like fast-attack craft or unmanned surface vessels. Weighing just 13 kg with a 3 kg warhead, it can achieve a speed of over twice the speed of sound and has an engagement range exceeding 6 km.

The Martlet's compact size allows a helicopter to carry up to 20 missiles, offering substantial firepower against swarm attacks from small boats. It employs a laser beam-riding guidance system for precision, which is ideal for engaging smaller or more agile targets at close ranges.