British army demonstrates Sea Venom missile’s capabilities in latest test

The UK has successfully tested the Sea Venom anti-ship missile at the Aberporth Naval Proving Ground off the coast of Wales.

During the tests, the missile accurately struck a target designed to simulate a barge, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Sea Venom is a subsonic missile specifically engineered to engage patrol boats and corvettes. It weighs 110 kilograms, with a 30-kilogram warhead, and has a range of 20 kilometres. The missile is designed to manoeuvre and approach targets just above the water surface, with plans to deploy it to military forces by 2026.

Developed collaboratively by the UK and France—where it's known as the Anti-Navire Léger (ANL) — Sea Venom aims to fulfil the Royal Navy’s Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon (Heavy) requirement (FASGW(H)). This capability will allow the Wildcat HMA.2 helicopter to disable surface targets up to corvette size and engage coastal and land targets.

The Sea Venom missile features a boost/sustain propulsion system, combining a fixed aft booster with a mid-body rocket sustainer, allowing for diverse flight profiles, including sea-skimming approaches. It boasts an effective range of approximately 20 kilometres.

For guidance, the missile utilizes an imaging infrared seeker, supplemented by a two-way datalink for operator control. While it can operate autonomously in a “fire and forget” mode, the operator-in-the-loop capability allows for in-flight re-targeting, aimpoint correction, and safe abort options.

In February, the British Navy experienced an unsuccessful test launch of the Trident II D5 ballistic missile from the refurbished HMS Vanguard, where the missile veered off course and landed near the submarine.

Additionally, it has been reported that the UK Navy is set to receive six new multi-role support ships. In May, UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps announced the development of these vessels, which will feature laser weapons and unmanned aerial vehicle launch systems. These ships will facilitate the rapid deployment of Marine special forces from sea to shore globally.

Shapps emphasized that investments in shipbuilding are crucial for creating a future Royal Navy capable of deterring adversaries and defeating them if deterrence fails.

By Tamilla Hasanova