HMS Richmond test-fires Seawolf missile system

Royal Navy warship HMS Richmond has decisively flexed her warfighting muscle with the successful firing of two Sea Wolf surface-to-air missiles during a training exercise. Immensely powerful and capable, the firings prove the Portsmouth-based frigate’s ability to track and destroy a sea-skimming target the size of a cricket ball travelling at supersonic speeds.

As part of the trial off the South West coast’s exercise areas, the ship fired a ‘telemetry’ missile loaded with recording sensors to allow indepth analysis of the missile’s performance by the RN’s trials authority - Maritime Commissioning Trials and Assessments (MCTA).

This was then followed up with a conventional ‘warshot’ missile, with both weapons destroying their target with ease.

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