Royal Marines took aim at the engine of a boat suspected of drug smuggling while flying in HMS Lancaster’s Wildcat helicopter over the Gulf of Oman. £35 million of drugs were subsequently seized.

Three skiffs were first identified by the Wildcat helicopter’s crew after launching on an early morning patrol from Type 23 frigate HMS Lancaster, which has been deployed to the Middle East with rotating crews since 2022. Lancaster subsequently deployed its other embarked air asset, a Peregrine rotary wing uncrewed aerial system (RWUAS) , to continue tracking the skiffs undetected while the Wildcat returned to the ship for a top-up of fuel. While on deck, the helicopter picked up a Maritime Sniper Team from the ship’s embarked complement of Royal Marines from 42 Commando. Contents Roya

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