British Navy's new lightweight multi-role Missile Martlet is being tested. It is designed to quickly react to a range of surface threats. This versatile missile is capable of firing from both air and sea platforms. It can also be integrated onto unmanned aircraft.
Martlets are capable delivering large warheads which enable them to penetrate targets further away. They can also penetrate targets at greater distances than the 30mm cannons currently used by the Royal Navy. They can be fitted with different blast effects and can also be used to target sensitive targets.
The laser-ranging proximity sensor on Martlets triggers small fragmentation warheads. The missile switches to an imaging-infrared seeker in the terminal phase to ensure it hits its target. It's virtually impossible for them to decoy. If the laser beam is broken, the missile will switch to another, more powerful module.
In 2021, the UK will likely adopt the Martlet as part of its military arsenal. However, it is not known when that will happen. While the missile is capable, there are some issues that must be considered when planning combat sorties. It does not have a visual warning system. It's hard to see which plane or vessel is being launched without proper visual inspection. It is possible for a missile to shoot down a boat or helicopter, but it is difficult to determine if that's happening.
Martlets, however, are not the only light multi-role missiles. There's the MBDA Sea Venom, which has a range of twice that of the Martlet. Another missile, the MBDA Starburst, was developed to shoot down unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Thales Lightweight Multi-role Missiles (LMM) is another example.
Martlets have been deployed to Ukraine, where Ukrainian troops reportedly used them in an actual conflict. Martlet MANPADS or light-guided Anti-Aircraft Missiles are not widely used in the UK army. However they have been delivered in various military units so there is a chance that they will be available in time for the next conflict.
Martlets were originally created to defend against swarming vessel attacks. But they're capable of defending against UAVs and other unspecified types of aircraft. The range of the cannons is much longer than those with a 30mm diameter, which are limited in the ability to engage multiple targets at once. That's because of their high flight speed, which increases their range. These missiles can also be equipped with telemetry to aid in measuring the accuracy of their launches.
Martlets have a range up to eight kilometers. They can also be fired from air or sea platforms. They can be mounted in five- and seven-tube clusters. Some are planned to be used on Wildcat helicopters by the Royal Navy. Currently, Martlets have been tested on HMS Sutherland. Four Martlets were fired during the test from a quintuple mounted on the ship’s 30-mm cannon.
Martlets' launchers are very similar to the Starstreak portable anti-missile defense missile. Martlets are easily fired using remote control cannons.