The Martlet missile has reached full operating capability on Wildcat helicopters, giving the aircraft a broader role in the UK Royal Navy’s counter-drone and maritime strike missions.
The Martlet missile has reached full operating capability on Wildcat helicopters, giving the aircraft a broader role in the Royal Navy’s counter-drone and maritime strike missions.
Developed by Thales, the Martlet weapon system has been in service aboard Wildcat helicopters since 2020. Recent trials expanded the missile’s operational envelope, including launches from altitudes as low as 50 feet (15 meters), compared with its earlier profile of more than 500 feet (152 meters).
Martlet is part of the wider Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon program and is designed as a lightweight precision missile for use against small, fast-moving threats at sea and in the air.
Lower-altitude firing allows Wildcat crews to operate more effectively in poor weather and engage smaller maritime threats with greater accuracy, according to Thales.
This development makes Martlet the primary air-launched weapon for counter-unmanned aerial systems missions, fast inshore attack craft engagements, and precision strike operations from Wildcat helicopters.
Commander Andrew Henderson, head of the Wildcat Maritime Force, described the milestone as a major capability shift for the helicopter fleet.
“It allows us to engage and defeat a variety of threats from surface ships to airborne drones with precision and confidence, in all environments,” he said.
Wildcat’s Uses
Britain has continued using the Wildcat fleet to test efforts to improve the service’s defense capabilities.
In March, the UK announced plans to procure additional laser-guided Martlet multirole missiles to strengthen protection against Iranian drone threats in the Middle East. The missiles are already deployed on Wildcat HMA2 helicopters operating from Cyprus.
The Wildcat helicopter is also central to the Royal Navy’s Eagle Eye trial, which uses the aircraft as a command hub for drone fleets by integrating near-instant feeds from surveillance drones and ground sensors.
Earlier, in October 2025, the helicopter platform achieved initial operating capability for the Sea Venom anti-ship missile system.
