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Royal Navy AW159 Wildcat completes missile tests at sea

31st October 2022 - 14:00 GMT | by Harry Lye, Norbert Neumann in London

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This the first time the Martlet LMM has been launched on frontline operations by the RN. (Photo: UK MoD/Crown Copyright)

During the one-month-long campaign, the RN AW159 Wildcat HMA helicopters operated with seven different weapon loads configurations and test-fired Martlet LMM missiles for the first time in frontline conditions.

During operations in the Pacific Ocean as part of Carrier Strike Group 21, the RN AW159 Wildcat HMA has completed a new round of trials with the Martlet and Sea Venom air-to-surface missiles.

In the month-long trial, ending in the middle of October, the AW159 was operated from RFA Argus from where it was flown for 19 days for a total of 87 flight hours.

During operations, the helicopter test-fired a Thales Martlet lightweight multirole missile (LMM) at an inflatable target.

The initial firing of the LMM from an RN AW159 took place in May 2020, but this was the first time

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