Royal Navy helicopters will soon carry drone-busting lightweight Martlet missiles, now declared fully operational following the anti-ship Sea Venom gaining initial operating capability (IOC) earlier this month.

The Lightweight Multirole Missile , as it's officially known, is a laser-guided weapon designed to engage aerial drones and fast attack boats. Wildcat helicopters – successors to the Lynx – can carry up to 20 Martlets using detachable weapon wings mounting two clusters of five missiles per side.

Wildcat firing Martlet

The Navy says the system performed well in the latest tests. In Cardigan Bay, Martlets engaged targets simulating small unmanned boats. During a NATO exercise on the Côte d'Azur, Wildcats defended a French task force against mock drone and surface craft attacks.

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