The Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyer, HMS Dauntless, successfully intercepted swarms of drones in a live-fire exercise designed to simulate real-world threats faced in regions like the Red Sea. The drill, known as Exercise Sharpshooter, marked the warship’s final test before joining the UK’s Carrier Strike Group deployment to the Indo-Pacific.
The exercise tested HMS Dauntless’ advanced weaponry, radars and sensors against a complex mix of aerial and surface threats. The destroyer became the first in her class to counter hundreds of simulated drone attacks, including Banshee and Hammerhead targets, in a scenario crafted to reflect evolving operational challenges.
Testing Royal Navy defenses
Exercise Sharpshooter was observed by Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard MP, who praised the warship’s performance:
“The speed and skill shown by the crew of HMS Dauntless in defending the ship against a complex and sustained series of drone attacks was incredibly impressive,” he said. “This test shows how the Royal Navy is adapting to face evolving threats, including from drone attacks in the Red Sea.”
Among the threats engaged during the exercise was QinetiQ’s Banshee Whirlwind, an aerial target drone capable of exceeding 200 mph, and the Hammerhead, an uncrewed surface vehicle designed to replicate real-world naval threats.
The ship’s arsenal, including the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System, 4.5-inch and 30mm guns as well as a Wildcat helicopter armed with Martlet missiles, was employed to neutralize these threats. The Martlet missile, capable of engaging targets up to six kilometers away, was used to demonstrate the ship’s extended engagement capabilities.
Preparing for the modern drone threat
The live-fire exercise was developed by Royal Navy instructors from the Fleet Operational Standards and Training team in partnership with defense technology company QinetiQ. The scenario was designed to provide insight into challenges faced by Royal Navy warships operating in contested environments.
HMS Dauntless’ sister ship, HMS Diamond, previously defended commercial shipping routes in the Red Sea, where she intercepted aerial threats and became the first Royal Navy vessel to destroy a ballistic missile using the Sea Viper air defense system.
With the completion of Exercise Sharpshooter, HMS Dauntless is now prepared to integrate into the Carrier Strike Group, reinforcing the Royal Navy’s ability to counter drone and missile threats in high-risk areas.
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Post Image Credit: Royal Navy
