HMS Edinburgh fired the missiles ahead of Exercise Joint Warrior to demonstrate that the Sea Dart still had life left in it. Its target was a 13ft long Mirach unmanned target drone, which can reach speeds of up to 530 kts (600 mph) and gain an altitude as high as 40,000ft (or as low as 10ft).
Above: The Mirach unmanned target drone.
Above: The destroyer launched individual Sea Darts, as well as a salvo (two missiles were fired simultaneously, as pictured above).
The missile has served with the Royal Navy for up to 40 years and saw action in the Falklands conflict where it was credited for 7 confirmed kills -- including one of which was out of the Sea Dart's specified range. The system also served in the first Gulf War, where it repelled an attack on the US Navy warship USS Missouri, marking the first time in which a missile had been shot down by another missile. Sea Dart was also deployed on HMS Liverpool during Operation Unified Protector, off the coast of Libya last year.
The Sea Dart missile system was primarily fitted to the Royal Navy's Type 42 destroyers, but some were also fitted to the Royal Navy's Invincible-class aircraft carriers in their earlier years, and also to HMS Bristol, a Type 82 destroyer now serving as a cadet training ship. The Argentine Navy was also equipped with Sea Dart but they have since been retired from service.
Edinburgh’s Commanding Officer Cdr Nick Borbone had this to say:
“It is quite something for the team to have the opportunity to undertake what is likely to be the last peacetime firing of Sea Dart.
"The new destroyers with the Sea Viper system are well-placed to provide air defence this century but Sea Dart still packs a punch, and this firing is an important step forward for Edinburgh’s preparations for operations later in the year.”
Simmo Simpson and Dave Jenkins also captured this footage of the firings:
No comments:
Post a Comment