Royal Navy hails missile test off Scottish coast

A Royal Navy warship has completed a successful test-firing of a powerful 800mph Harpoon missile capable of destroying a target up to 80 miles (129km) away.

Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose fired the anti-ship missile while on exercise off Scotland, completely destroying a target barge.

A booster rocket helps launch the missile, which is 15ft (4.6m) long and about 1ft (30.5cm) in diameter, before the turbojet then powers it along at Mach 9, just under the speed of sound.

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