HMS Dragon successfully tested her Sea Viper missile defence system for the first time, during sea trials off the West coast of Scotland.
The Royal Navy’s newest Type-45 destroyer, which is proudly affiliated with the Welsh capital Cardiff, blasted an Aster missile out of her silo at three times the speed of sound, obliterating an incoming target in the sky above.
The live firing exercise – which took place on the Outer Hebrides missile range last week – marks the start of an intense work-up period for the 7,500-tonne ship before she is declared ready for operations and deployed, next year. With 95% of UK imports arriving by sea, the UK maintains a presence at sea around the world throughout the year to build partnerships and prevent conflict.
HMS Dragon’s Operations Officer, Lieutenant Commander Duncan MacRae RN, said:
“This was a great demonstration of the capability of a Type 45 and a reassurance of system performance. I have been involved in a couple of missile shoots but this one was by far and away the most rewarding as I was in the hot seat giving the order to engage.”
The highly sophisticated Sea Viper missile system has a range of 200 miles and is so powerful that it is able to fend off multiple and simultaneous attacks at supersonic speeds. It forms a protective “bubble” around the ship herself, the task force as a whole, and any forces ashore within her range.
Lt Cdr Kevin Miller RN, HMS Dragon’s Weapons Engineering Officer, said:
“The engineering behind the scenes to ensure that the missile accurately reaches the target and destroys it is immense. Each ship can hold up to 48 Sea Viper missiles. But the missile itself is just one small component of the Principle Anti Air Missile System that comprises some advanced radars and powerful computers to do all the maths involved in an engagement.”
Launched on 17 November 2008, HMS Dragon is the fourth of the Navy’s six £1bn Type 45 destroyers. Type 45s are the largest and most powerful air defence destroyers ever built for the Royal Navy and all will be based in Portsmouth. They can fulfill a range of roles, from war-fighting to diplomatic visits designed to promote British interests abroad. HMS Dragon visited Cardiff, her adopted home city, for the first time in the spring of 2012.
The first Type 45, HMS Daring, arrived in Portsmouth in January 2009 and the second, HMS Dauntless arrived the following December. The third, HMS Diamond, arrived in September last year.
