One of the UK’s most advanced warships has obliterated a supersonic missile in a historic first for the Royal Navy in a test off the coast of Scotland.
In a burst of fire and smoke, Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon launched a specially-modified Sea Viper missile at an incoming high-speed target which was emulating the kind of advanced threats seen around the globe today.
It marks the first time the Royal Navy has faced down this kind of target – one that is significantly more challenging as it flies faster and carries out corkscrew and weave manoeuvres.
The Sea Viper launched was a special telemetry version, designed to record measurements and valuable data to inform future operations.
The missile firing took place as part of the largest live-firing exercise in Europe this year – known as Exercise Formidable Shield 25 – which is proving the Portsmouth-based ship’s ability to defend herself and other ships around her from attack, including from swarms of drones.
“The successful Sea Viper firing as part of Formidable Shield 25 is a huge moment for HMS Dragon,” Commander Iain Giffin, HMS Dragon’s Commanding Officer, said.
“Not only does it prove that Dragon’s world leading air defence capability functions as it should following an extensive maintenance period, but it also proves our ability to integrate and operate alongside NATO allies and partners.
“Training alongside ships, aircraft and land forces from 11 nations in this complex, multi-domain exercise ensures that we maintain our fighting edge against evolving Hi and Low-tech threats.”
On the 15th of May 2025 HMS Dragon took part in a Sea viper Live firing against a supersonic sea skimming target. This is the first time in Royal Navy history this has been achieved.
During the exercise HMS Dragon was working with other NATO Ships conducting missile firings. HMS Dragon is currently on exercise Formidable Shield. The purpose of the exercise is a joint, live-fire, integrated air and Missile defense exercise.
The exercise consists of 10 NATO countries involving ships, aircraft, ground forces and deployed staff. Parts of this package have been manipulated for operational Security.
Just two and a half seconds after erupting from HMS Dragon’s silo, the missile accelerated to more than four times the speed of sound – otherwise known as Mach 4.
High above the water, it then manoeuvred at G-forces which no human being could withstand, to close in and destroy the target.
Sea Viper is the combination of the Sampson radar system – the distinctive spinning spiked ball on top of a Type 45 destroyer’s main mast – and the Aster missile system which sits in a silo on the ship’s forecastle.
The system tracks aircraft and other objects across thousands of cubic miles of airspace over the Hebrides range in western Scotland, identifies threats, and destroys them when necessary.
“Seeing how far Dragon has progressed, both within the Warfare Department as well as the wider ship, is impressive,” Lieutenant Commander Sarah Kaese, Dragon’s Senior Warfare Officer – who is on exchange from the Royal Australian Navy.
“Formidable Shield has been both a significant challenge and opportunity for Dragon to come together as a warfighting unit and integrate into a task group developing air defence capability.”
Formidable Shield sees naval forces battle against uncrewed air and surface systems, subsonic, supersonic and ballistic targets, bringing together allied ships and land-based air defences and air forces – all working together to prove themselves a credible combined combat power.
Almost every participant is due to launch missiles over the course of the month-long workout.
The first phase of the exercise – which involves nearly 7,000 personnel – took place at the Andøya firing range in Norway, before moving on to the Hebrides range. Formidable Shield ends on May 31.
