One of the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyer warships has shot down swarms of drones in a live-fire exercise off the Welsh coast. Exercise Sharpshooter was HMS Dauntless’ final test before departing for the UK’s upcoming Carrier Strike Group deployment to the Indo-Pacific region.
The Dauntless is the first ship of this class to fend off hundreds of Banshee, Hammerhead and virtual drone attacks as part of a scenario customised to mimic real-world threats. QinetiQ’s Banshee Whirlwind target is an aerial drone capable of flying at over 200mph, while the Hammerhead is an uncrewed surface vehicle which is used to imitate real-world threats.
Dauntless shot down drones using its Phalanx automated gun, 4.5inch and 30mm guns as well as an embarked Wildcat using Martlet missiles which are able to take out targets up to 6km away.
Exercise Sharpshooter, designed by instructors from the Royal Navy’s Fleet Operational Standards and Training and QinetiQ, saw the ship targeted with persistent real life and virtual threats during the day and overnight. To increase the complexity of the scenario, a number of static targets were also positioned at sea to replicate different threats. These are equipped with technical equipment which gathers data and enables QinetiQ to understand the effectiveness of the weapons systems being used.
The exercise was observed first hand by Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard MP, who said: “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. This test shows how the Royal Navy is adapting to face evolving threats, including from drone attacks in the Red Sea, as well as how we are working closely with industry to harness the latest technology to keep the UK secure at home and strong abroad.”
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Image: Royal Navy, Ministry of Defence photo from Exercise Sharpshooter by Kevin Walton
