IAI and Thales UK offer Sea Serpent for Royal Navy
IAI is working with Thales with the aim to equip UK RN Type 23 frigates with a new kind of missile. (Photo: IAI)
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Thales UK on 13 April announced a cooperation agreement to offer Sea Serpent anti-ship and anti-surface missiles to the UK RN.
The RN may equip its Type 23 frigates with Sea Serpent in response to the growing intensity of emerging threats.
Sea Serpent provides anti-ship and land capabilities at ranges beyond 200km. Its design is derived from the Gabriel family of surface-to-surface missiles, albeit with significant upgrades.
According to IAI, Sea Serpent can overcome kinetic counter-fire and electronic countermeasures so that the missile can locate and attack its target in any environment.
The missile has been designed for contested and confusing situations, characterised by many decoys and interference. Sea Serpent can adjust its course while in flight, using real-time ISTAR feeds.
The partnership with Thales follows an announcement last year that IAI and ST Engineering were teaming up to market a new anti-ship missile.
This article was updated on 14 April to reflect the fact that a decision is pending on Type 23 missiles.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
More from Naval Warfare
-
US Coast Guard enhances Arctic protection with a new Fast Response Cutter
After commissioning, FRC Frederick Mann will operate in Alaska and perform multiple missions.
-
US Coast Guard announces measures to further implement Force Design 2028 strategy
The US Coast Guard (USCG) created new units, including five Programme Executive Offices (PEOs), to facilitate and speed up the procurement of new capabilities.
-
Future of the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke programme remains unclear
The US Navy does not have a precise date for the award of the procurement contract for the third Arleigh Burke-class destroyer despite having the funds to advance with the programme in FY2025.
-
US Navy may look to foreign suppliers to accelerate shipbuilding programmes
The US Navy (USN) is currently reassessing its acquisition efforts and seeking ways to reduce the multiple delays across the shipbuilding initiatives.
-
Italy orders two ships as work begins on others along with deliveries and updates
The Italian Navy is being refreshed with two new ships ordered, while in the past six months steel was cut for a new frigate, an enhanced frigate was delivered and Horizon-class frigates passed a design review.