Drone Swarm Attacks Leave Destroyer Undaunted

Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dauntless geared up for her imminent Far East deployment by shooting down drone swarms in a live-fire exercise staged off the British coast.

The Type 45 destroyer will soon depart as part of the U.K. Carrier Strike Group headed by HMS Prince of Wales when it heads to Japan on its Indo-Pacific deployment later this spring.

But ahead of that mission she took part in Exercise Sharpshooter, a live-fire exercise off the Welsh coastline that saw her fending off attacks from hundreds of Banshee, Hammerhead and virtual drones.

As per a recent Royal Navy press statement, the training exercise “customised to mimic real-world threats” was watched live by Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard.

He commented: “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.

“This test shows how the Royal Navy is adapting to face evolving threats, including from drone attacks in the Red Sea, as well as how we are working closely with industry to harness the latest technology to keep the U.K. secure at home and strong abroad.”

The day-and-night simulation made use of 200mph Banshee Whirlwind uncrewed aerial system (UAS) target drones and Hammerhead uncrewed surface vehicles (USV).

The ship countered the incoming threats with a variety of weaponry including Martlet missiles fired from her embarked Wildcat helicopter, and onboard systems including her Phalanx automated gun, and 4.5inch and 30mm naval guns.

Commanding Officer of HMS Dauntless, Commander Ben Dorrington, commented: “The realism of the exercise and training delivered provided a unique opportunity for the ship’s company to demonstrate they are ready to defend, ready to fight and ready to win.

“As we reach the pinnacle of our comprehensive training package with the conclusion of Exercise Sharpshooter, we look forward to some well-deserved Easter leave before deploying as part of the Carrier Strike Group in the spring.”

• You can read more details on the Royal Navy website