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Martlet (missile)

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Lightweight Multirole Missile
Martlet
A Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter equipped with Martlet missiles.
TypeLaser-guided battlefield missile (ASM, AAM, SAM and SSM)
Place of originUnited Kingdom
Service history
In service2021; full operating capability with the Royal Navy projected for 2025
Used by
WarsRusso-Ukrainian War
Production history
ManufacturerThales Air Defence
Specifications
Mass13 kg (29 lb)
Length1.3 m (4 ft 3 in)
Diameter76 mm (3.0 in)
Wingspan260 mm (10 in)
WarheadHE blast fragmentation, shaped charge
Warhead weight3 kg (6.6 lb)
Detonation
mechanism
Laser, proximity (active)
Propellant2-stage, solid propellant
Operational
range
8 km (4.3 nmi; 5.0 mi)
Maximum speed > Mach 1.5 (510 m/s; 1,670 ft/s)
Guidance
system
  • SAL, LBR (mode A)
  • IR terminal homing (mode B)
  • IIR terminal homing (mode C)
  • INS, GPS (mode D)
Launch
platform
Jackal drone (UK) (under development)
ReferencesJanes[1]

Martlet or the Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM) is a lightweight air-to-surface, air-to-air, surface-to-air, and surface-to-surface missile developed by Thales Air Defence for the United Kingdom. It is named after a mythical bird from English heraldry that never roosts, the Martlet.[2]

The LMM was developed from the Starburst surface-to-air missile to meet the UK's "Future Air-to-Surface Guided Weapon (Light)" requirement to equip the Royal Navy's AW159 Wildcat helicopters and supplement the heavier Sea Venom missile by the engagement of smaller and manoeuvrable naval craft.[3][4]

A glide variant of the LMM known as FreeFall LMM (FFLMM) or Fury is designed as a lighter munition to equip drones and is currently slated to equip the British Army's Dispensing Rocket Payload for the GMLRS-ER and Precision Strike Missile (PrSM).[5]

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) placed an initial order for 1,000 missiles with deliveries due to start in 2013.[6] However, initial operating capability was considerably delayed and took place in 2021 with full operating capability now only anticipated in 2025.[7][8][3]

Development

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The first operational live firing of a Martlet missile by the Royal Navy in October 2021
A Schiebel Camcopter S-100 UAV fitted with a Martlet missile

The Lightweight Multirole Missile was initially conceived as Thales' response to the MoD's FASGW(L) or Future Air-to-Surface Guided Weapon (Light) requirement. FASGW consisted of both a heavy and light system. The heavy requirement would become the Anglo-French developed Sea Venom designed to replace the Sea Skua as a helicopter launched anti-ship weapon for use against fast-attack-craft, landing craft and larger vessels such as Corvettes. The light requirement was to be a new weapon optimised around defeating fast-in-shore-attack-craft particularly in response to the force structure of the Iranian Navy.[9]

Thales submitted a re-designed Starburst missile (the predecessor to Starstreak) which would maintain the use of a laser beam-riding guidance system as means of overcoming the tight rules of engagement present in in-shore waters and ensuring continued effectiveness against low-reflectivity targets. It was designed to be launched from a variety of naval, air and land platforms against a wide range of targets.[9]

Qualification testing and initial production commenced in late 2011, following an initial contract by the UK Ministry of Defence in April 2011. Thales has conducted successful guidance control firings, including a semi-active laser (SAL) version. The MoD contract was for the design, development, and commissioning of a laser beam rider version of LMM, together with production of an initial quantity of 1,000 missiles.[6]

Characteristics

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The LMM weighs approximately 13 kilograms (29 lb) with a length of 1.3 metres (4 ft 3 in) and a diameter of 76 millimetres (3.0 in).[9] The weapon is guided using a laser beam-riding system but Thales have proposed a variety of additional seekers including a semi-active laser, terminal Infrared, and GPS/INS systems.[9]

LMM can be operated from variety of platforms. Martlet has been integrated onto the Royal Navy's AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat helicopters which across two weapon wings and four total weapon stations can hold up to 20x missiles, alternatively a mix load of 10x Martlets and 2x Sea Venoms can be carried, or a weapon wing can be removed to allow for a mounted gun on one side.

The British Army has integrated LMM on their current armoured (Stormer) and light role Starstreak ground-based air-defence batteries of 12 Regiment Royal Artillery and 106th (Yeomanry) Regiment Royal Artillery to supplement Starstreak.[6][4][10]

Other platforms have also been trailed or conceptualised. In early 2019 HMS Sutherland tested a modified mounting for the 30 mm Automated Small Calibre Gun which incorporated a launcher for five Martlet LMMs, by firing four of them at a small speedboat target at the Aberporth range in Wales. The concept of mounting the missile alongside the 30 mm (1.181 in) Bushmaster cannon was tested just 5 months after the idea's conception. The intended role of the Martlet is to further extend the Type 23 frigate's capabilities against small, fast-moving targets beyond the current 30 mm, general purpose machine gun and Minigun options to provide a long-range "stand-off" ability. As of 2019 it was not clear whether the Royal Navy intended to equip any more Type 23s with the system.[11] A 2023 report suggested that the tests had not been deemed successful due to efflux management issues on the Type 23.[12]

A number of other surface launch options have been conceived for the LMM such as standalone launchers as well as concepts for LMM to be mounted to other gun systems as the Thales' 40mm RAPIDfire.[9][13] LMM and in some cases FFLMM have also been publicly tested by a variety of uncrewed air vehicles (UAVs) including a Schiebel Camcopter S-100, Flyby Technology's Jackal, and the Hydra 400.[14][15][16][17]

FFLMM/Fury

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Textron Fury mockup at IDEX 2017

In July 2014, Thales unveiled a modification of the LMM that turns it into a glide bomb, called the FreeFall LMM (FFLMM). Thales partnered with Textron to market it as the Fury for the U.S. market, who provides a height-of-burst sensor and electronic safe-and-arm device. The weapon had been in development for 18 months and undergone initial test drops in August 2013. In comparison to the LMM, the FFLMM removes the rocket motor and associated components while keeping the body and control actuators, as well as adding inertial navigation system and GPS navigation, semi-active laser guidance in place of the beam-riding system, and four enlarged fins for increased lift.

The bomb is not intended to replace larger munitions, but be used as a smaller and cheaper alternative to self-propelled missiles, with three bombs able to fit on a single Hellfire missile rail. It is 70 cm (28 in) long, weighs 5.8 kg (13 lb), and uses a 2 kg (4.4 lb) dual-effect shaped charge and pre-fragmented blast warhead for use against armoured vehicles, small boats, and personnel, with an operational range of 4 km (2.5 mi) when launched at 10,000 ft (3,000 m). A potential role for the Fury could be to arm medium intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) UAVs like the RQ-7 Shadow to deal with fleeting or time-sensitive targets.[18][19][20]

At DSEI 2023, it was shown that the British Army's Dispensing Rocket Payload being developed for the GMLRS-ER and PrSM will utilise a variant of FFLMM as a kinetic effector for use against armoured vehicles alongside Lockheed Martin UK's Outrider UAS for ISTAR.[5][21][22]

Operational history

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In July 2019, the Air Defence Troop of 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group tested LMMs in a surface-to-air mode against Meggitt Banshee target drones.[23]

In May 2021, the Royal Navy deployed Martlet missiles for the first time as part of UK Carrier Strike Group 21. The missiles were carried by Wildcat HMA2 helicopters, four of which were deployed as part of the strike group.[24] The missiles were fired operationally for the first time in October 2021.[25]

A Ukrainian soldier holding a LMM launcher

Following the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine, the UK donated an unknown quantity of Martlet to the Ukrainian Armed Forces as part of a military aid package.[26][27] They have been launched from MANPADS (man-portable air-defense system) shoulder launchers and also from the Alvis Stormer armoured air defence vehicle.[28]

Martlet was used by a Royal Navy AW159 Wildcat helicopter to strike a retired US Navy frigate during a SINKEX (SINK EXercise) in September 2022 — the first time the missile had been used to strike a realistic target at sea, as opposed to purpose-built targets.[29]

In October, 2022, LMM was successfully fired from Flyby Technology's Jackal drone (capable of carrying two missiles) during trials with the Royal Air Force.[15][16][17]

In July 2023, the Royal Navy further trialled Martlet from Wildcat helicopters over the course of two-weeks; during which, the first air-to-air firings of Martlet took place against a Banshee drone.[30]

In September 2023, Taiwan placed an order for 160 Jackal drones from Flyby Technology. However it is unclear if they intend to use LMM from the platform.[31]

In November 2023, the UK's Army Warfighting Experiment (Urban) saw both the British Army and Royal Air Force trialling a variety of technologies to exploit future urban combat; this included both LMM and FFLMM among other weapons (e.g. Brimstone) and payloads integrated onto the Hydra 400 and other UAVs.[14][32]

In July 2024, it was reported that the British Army planned to order 12 URO VAMTAC vehicles and equip them with LMMs as a replacement for the six Alvis Stormer vehicles donated to Ukraine.[33]

In September 2024, the UK pledged at a Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting to send 650 newly manufactured Martlet missiles to Ukraine at a cost of £162 million, with delivery starting in late 2024.[34][35]

On 2 November 2024, the Royal Navy announced a successful trial with Wildcat helicopter crew which saw the first time a wildcat had detected, tracked, and engaged a drone without any outside assistance.[36]

Operators

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Map with Martlet users in blue

Current operators

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Potential operators

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  •  Taiwan - Purchased 160 LMM capable Jackal drones in September 2023.[31]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Janes (23 November 2022), "Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM)", Janes Weapons: Air Launched, Coulsdon, Surrey: Jane's Group UK Limited, retrieved 2 January 2023
  2. ^ Type 26 Global Combat Ship (PDF), Ministry of Defence, 9 October 2014, p. 3, retrieved 24 November 2014
  3. ^ a b "The Martlet missile – the Wildcat helicopter gets its claws | Navy Lookout". 15 June 2020.
  4. ^ a b "The Martlet missile – the Wildcat helicopter gets its claws | Navy Lookout". www.navylookout.com. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  5. ^ a b Molinelli, Gabriele (14 September 2023). "The most exciting part is the "one launcher, many payloads" bit, more formally known as "Technical Demonstrator 5": UK-developed payload modules for GMLRS ER. The main focus right now is an anti-armour, smart area attack munition dispenser and a sensor/UAVs dispenser". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "Britain orders 1,000 Thales LMM missiles". UPI.
  7. ^ Allison, George (23 July 2023). "Martlet achieves progress in operating capabilities". UK Defence Journal.
  8. ^ In focus: the Wildcat multi role helicopter in service with the Royal Navy, savetheroyalnavy.org, 4 February 2019
  9. ^ a b c d e "Martlet ( Lightweight Multirole Missile) - Think Defence". www.thinkdefence.co.uk. 12 November 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  10. ^ On board Royal Navy's latest-generation multi-role Wildcat helicopter, retrieved 22 October 2023
  11. ^ "Navy's new anti-ship missile bang on target". www.royalnavy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. 16 July 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  12. ^ "Ukraine war sees uncrewed surface vessels mature into a serious threat". Navy Lookout. 6 August 2023.
  13. ^ RAPIDFire naval gun system with LMM missiles by KNDS and Thales, retrieved 24 October 2023
  14. ^ a b Lye, Stuart (30 November 2023). "Low cost delivery drones. The Sparrow winch for precision delivery/extraction into urban canyons. Malloy heavy drone with CASEVAC, rocket, gun pod (mini-BRRRRTTT) and ,of course, Brimstone". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  15. ^ a b Technology, Flyby. "Jackal VTOL aircraft". FlybyTechnology. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  16. ^ a b Technology, Flyby. "Flyby Professional Drone Training". FlybyTechnology. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  17. ^ a b Jackal drone fires Martlet missiles for first time in RAF trials, retrieved 22 October 2023
  18. ^ Thales Reveals 6-Kg Glide Bomb For UAVs - Aviationweek.com, 14 July 2015
  19. ^ Textron's big hopes for its small guided bomb, Flightglobal.com, 14 July 2014
  20. ^ Mini-Munitions Drawing Big Attention[dead link] - Defensenews.com, 14 July 2014
  21. ^ "The Science Inside 2022". GOV.UK. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  22. ^ "Land Precision Strike - Think Defence". www.thinkdefence.co.uk. 31 December 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  23. ^ "Royal Marines Unleash New Lightweight Missiles". Royal Navy. 4 July 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  24. ^ Scott, Richard (24 May 2021). "RN Wildcats field new anti-surface guided weapons for CSG21". Janes Information Services. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  25. ^ "Royal Navy Wildcat fires the first operational Martlet missile". NavyLookout. 22 October 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  26. ^ "First Russian drone destroyed by a new British Martlet missile in Ukraine". www.aerotime.aero. AeroTime Hub. 11 April 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  27. ^ Ough, Tom (12 April 2022). "Watch: Ukrainian soldiers shoot down Russian drone with British Martlet missile". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  28. ^ "The Stormer HVM air defense system destroyed air targets in the east of Ukraine".
  29. ^ "British and American forces obliterate former US warship during impressive test of firepower". Royal Navy. 23 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  30. ^ Allison, George (28 July 2023). "First Wildcat air-to-air firing trial with Martlet a success". Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  31. ^ a b Perry, Dominic (15 September 2023). "Jackal armed UAV scores first order with 160-unit Taiwan deal". Flight Global. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  32. ^ White, Andrew (18 December 2023). "British Army runs armed drone test campaign to assess urban warfare strike options". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  33. ^ "UK plans to procure VAMTAC air-defence vehicles to replace Stormers donated to Ukraine". Janes Information Services. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  34. ^ a b Khalil, Hafsa (6 September 2024). "UK to send hundreds more missiles to Ukraine". BBC News. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  35. ^ "UK to provide £162 million package of air defence missiles for Ukraine as Defence Secretary meets international partners". Ministry of Defence. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024 – via gov.uk.
  36. ^ "The Royal Navy has enhanced its ability to thwart drone attack after helicopter crews downed a pilotless aircraft off the Welsh coast". Royal Navy. 2 November 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  37. ^ Brown, Nick (25 June 2014). "DVD 2014: Indonesian SAMs break cover, promising enhanced anti-UAV capability". janes.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  38. ^ "The mortal enemy of fighter jets to drones, these are the three air defense missiles belonging to the Indonesian Army". BANGKAPOS (in Indonesian). 18 April 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  39. ^ "WDS 2022: MBDA, SAMI sign agreement on missile maintenance". Janes Information Services. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  40. ^ Allison, George (23 July 2023). "Martlet achieves progress in operating capabilities". UK Defence Journal.
  41. ^ 🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapons Tracker [@UAWeapons] (10 April 2022). "#Ukraine: The first video of a UK-supplied Martlet multirole missile - not a Starstreak as widely claimed - in action with the Ukrainian troops. As reported, it took out a Russian Orlan-10 UAV and this appears credible given the reaction, but we cannot see precisely what was hit. https://t.co/i6sP6649h6" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 23 April 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022 – via Twitter.
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