Sea Venom (missile)
{{for|the 1950s jet aircraft|de Havilland Sea Venom}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name = Sea Venom
Anti-Navire Léger
| image = MBDA FASGW-ANL.JPG
| image_size = 300
| alt =
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| type = Anti-ship missile
| origin = {{ubl|United Kingdom|France}}
| is_missile = y
| is_UK = y
| service = 2026 (Royal Navy - projected)
| used_by = {{ubl|Royal Navy|French Navy (undergoing trials)}}
| wars =
| designer =
| design_date =
| manufacturer = MBDA
| unit_cost =
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| mass = {{cvt|120|kg|lb}}
| length = {{cvt|2.5|m|ftin}}
| width =
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| diameter = {{cvt|200|mm|in}}
| filling = HE semi‐armour piercing blast/fragmentation
| filling_weight = {{cvt|30|kg|lb}}
| detonation = Impact, time delay
| yield =
| engine = Two‐stage solid‐propellant rocket motor
| engine_power =
| vehicle_range = > {{cvt|20|km|nmi mi}}
| speed = {{cvt|0.85|Mach|m/sec ft/sec}}
| steering =
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| launch_platform = {{ubl|AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat|Eurocopter AS565 Panther|NHIndustries NH90|Airbus H160M}}
| transport =
| ref = Janes{{Citation |author=Janes |url=https://customer.janes.com/Janes/Display/JALW9183-JALW |title=Sea Venom/ANL (FASGW[H]/ANL) |date=21 November 2022 |website=Janes Weapons: Air Launched |publisher=Jane's Group UK Limited |publication-place=Coulsdon, Surrey |url-access=subscription |access-date=2 January 2023}}
}}
Sea Venom is an Anglo-French lightweight anti-ship missile developed by MBDA to equip the French Navy and the Royal Navy.{{cite web|title=SEA VENOM-ANL|url=http://www.mbda-systems.com/mediagallery/files/sea-venom-anl_datasheet-1414139272.pdf|website=MBDA|access-date=12 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108154826/http://www.mbda-systems.com/mediagallery/files/sea-venom-anl_datasheet-1414139272.pdf|archive-date=8 November 2014|df=dmy-all}} The missile is known as Anti-Navire Léger (ANL) in France and Sea Venom (formerly "Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon (Heavy)") in the United Kingdom. While initial operating capability had been expected with the Royal Navy in 2022, it was reported in 2023 that, due to "on-going integration challenges", the Royal Navy's Wildcat helicopters would only achieve full operational capability with the missile in 2026.{{Cite web|url=https://www.navylookout.com/royal-navys-sea-venom-light-anti-ship-missile-full-operating-capability-delayed-until-2026/|title = Royal Navy's Sea Venom light anti-ship missile full operating capability delayed until 2026 |website=Navy Lookout |date=21 June 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/rn-wildcats-field-new-anti-surface-guided-weapons-for-csg21|title = RN Wildcats field new anti-surface guided weapons for CSG21}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.navylookout.com/the-martlet-missile-wildcat-helicopter-gets-its-claws/|title=The Martlet missile – the Wildcat helicopter gets its claws|date=15 June 2020|website=www.navylookout.com}}{{cite web|title=FASGW(H) / ANL|url=http://www.mbda-systems.com/mediagallery/files/fasgw-h-anl_background-1402652809.pdf|access-date=12 December 2014|archive-date=3 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140803024342/http://www.mbda-systems.com/mediagallery/files/fasgw-h-anl_background-1402652809.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|author=Richard Scott |url=https://www.janes.com/article/85256/sea-venom-anl-missile-service-entry-faces-year-long-delay |title=Sea Venom/ANL missile service entry faces year-long delay |publisher=IHS Janes |date=17 December 2018 |access-date=18 December 2018}} The first test launch, from an AS365 Dauphin helicopter of the French DGA, was successfully conducted on 21 June 2017.[http://navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2017/july-2017-navy-naval-forces-defense-industry-technology-maritime-security-global-news/5355-successful-first-test-firing-for-mbda-sea-venom-anl-anti-ship-missile.html Successful First Test Firing for MBDA Sea Venom / ANL Anti-ship Missile] - Navyrecognition.com, 4 July 2017{{citation |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/anglo-french-anti-ship-missile-completes-first-test-439038/ |title=Anglo-French anti-ship missile completes first test |first=Craig |last=Hoyle |date= 5 July 2017 |work=Flightglobal.com}}
Design
Sea Venom is designed as a successor to the French Navy's AS 15 TT and Royal Navy's Sea Skua missiles. When in service, Sea Venom will equip Eurocopter Panther and NH90 helicopters in the French Navy and Wildcat helicopters in the Royal Navy. Due to shared characteristics with its predecessors, MBDA claims Sea Venom will be able to readily integrate onto platforms that are already carrying Sea Skua and AS 15 TT.
Much like its predecessors, Sea Venom is designed to attack surface targets, such as fast in-shore attack craft ranging in size of between 50 and 500 tonnes, as well as larger surface targets of up to corvette size. With its 30 kg warhead, the missile is also capable of inflicting significant damage to larger vessels through precision aim point selection, and can also attack static land-based targets. Whilst its precise range is currently unknown, MBDA has stated that the missile has a "long" stand-off range enabling it to be launched from beyond the reach of most modern air defence systems. The missile is capable of several attack modes including sea skimming and "pop up/top attack."[http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/naval-exhibitions/euronaval-2016/4434-mbda-sea-venomanti-navire-leger-anl-antiship-missile-testing-well-on-track.html MBDA' Sea Venom/Anti-Navire Leger (ANL) Antiship Missile Testing Well On Track] - Navyrecognition.com, 13 October 2016 Sea Venom uses an infrared seeker with the option of "man in the loop" track-via-missile guidance via data-link; the high speed two-way data-link transmits the images "seen" by the seeker back to the operator, enabling them to remain in control of the missile throughout its flight in addition to having an autonomous engagement capability.
MBDA is also working on a surface-launched variant of the missile.
History
The Royal Navy declared Sea Venom an initial operating capability in May 2021 when it deployed them as part of United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group 21 on its maiden deployment to the Pacific. The missile equipped four Wildcat HMA2 helicopters embarked on the strike group's accompanying destroyers.{{cite news |last1=Scott |first1=Richard |title=RN Wildcats field new anti-surface guided weapons for CSG21 |url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/rn-wildcats-field-new-anti-surface-guided-weapons-for-csg21 |access-date=29 September 2021 |work=Jane's Information Group |date=24 May 2021}} However, in 2023 it was reported that integration challenges were ongoing and, as a result, full operating capability would be delayed until 2026.{{Cite web|url=https://www.navylookout.com/royal-navys-sea-venom-light-anti-ship-missile-full-operating-capability-delayed-until-2026/|title = Royal Navy's Sea Venom light anti-ship missile full operating capability delayed until 2026 |website=Navy Lookout |date=21 June 2023}} In October 2024, a Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter conducted a test-firing of the missile.{{cite web |title= Royal Navy Wildcat Test-fires Sea Venom Anti-Ship Missile |first= James|last=Gray |date=14 October 2024 |website=The Aviationist |url=https://theaviationist.com/2024/10/14/royal-navy-wildcat-test-fires-sea-venom-anti-ship-missile/}}
The British share of the lifetime cost of the system was given as £945 million in 2022.{{cite news |url=https://www.navylookout.com/royal-navys-sea-venom-light-anti-ship-missile-full-operating-capability-delayed-until-2026/ |title=Royal Navy's Sea Venom light anti-ship missile full operating capability delayed until 2026 |newspaper=Navy Lookout |date=21 June 2023 |access-date=15 September 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2022-09-08/49576 |title=Antiship Missiles: Procurement |last=Shelbrooke |first=Alec |publisher=UK Parliament |date=8 September 2022 |access-date=15 September 2024}}
See also
- Martlet (missile) - the "Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon (Light)" equivalent
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/light-naval-strike-mbdas-fasgw-h-anl-missile-012879/ www.defenseindustrydaily.com]
- [http://www.janes.com/article/40826/farnborough-2014-uk-awards-fasgw-integration-contract-for-wildcat www.janes.com - Farnborough 2014]
{{UKmissiles}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thales Light Multirole Missile}}
Category:Anti-ship missiles of the United Kingdom