Martlet (missile)

Lightweight Multirole Missile Martlet
A Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter equipped with Martlet missiles.
Type	Light Air-to-surface, surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missile
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
In service	2021 (initial operating capability); full operating capability expected 2024
Used by	Royal Navy
Production history
Manufacturer	Thales Air Defence
Specifications
Mass	13 kg (29 lb)
Length	1.3 m (51 in)
Diameter	76 mm (3.0 in)
Warhead	3 kg (6.6 lb)
Detonation mechanism	Laser proximity sensor
Propellant	2-stage solid propellant
Operational range	8 km (5.0 mi)
Maximum speed	Mach 1.5 (1,800 km/h; 1,100 mph)
Guidance system	Multi-mode guidance (Laser beam riding and/or semi-active laser guidance & terminal infrared homing)
Launch platform	Wildcat, Schiebel Camcopter

Martlet is a lightweight air-to-surface, surface-to-air, and surface-to-surface missile developed by Thales Air Defence for the United Kingdom.

Developed as the Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM) to meet the UK's "Future Air-to-Surface Guided Weapon (Light)" requirement, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) placed an initial order for 1,000 missiles with deliveries due to start in 2013. However, initial operating capability was considerably delayed and took place in 2021 with full operating capability anticipated in 2024. The missile was given the name "Martlet" in British service.

History

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 Future Air-to-Surface Guided Weapon (Light) FASGW(L) requirement. It was designed to be launched from a variety of naval, air and land platforms against a wide range of targets. High precision reduces collateral damage and makes the missile suitable for asymmetric littoral operations. Development began in 2008 and the LMM uses technology from an earlier Thales (formerly Shorts Missile Systems) missile, the Starstreak. 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. These are operated from the new AgustaWestland AW159 helicopters and the current armoured and light role Starstreak ground based air defence batteries of 12 Regiment Royal Artillery and 106th (Yeomanry) Regiment Royal Artillery. Thales graphics show helicopters carrying twin seven-round launchers. These were to enter service in 2015 but were considerably delayed. The contract was eventually funded by a deal to "re-role previously contracted budgets to facilitate the full-scale development, series production and introduction of the LMM."^{[citation needed]}

Thales test-fired an LMM from a Schiebel Camcopter S-100, demonstrating a potential for use from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

In May 2021, the Royal Navy deployed Martlet missiles for the first time as part of UK Carrier Strike Group 21.

Description

LMM is intended to provide a single family of weapons that can be used in different modes, including:

• Maritime – LMM will be carried on the new Wildcat helicopters of the Royal Navy for use against small surface vessels. ASELSAN of Turkey has developed dedicated mounting systems which can also enable the LMM to be launched from naval platforms such as fast attack craft.
• Surface-to-surface – The dual-effect (blast fragmentation and shaped charge) of the LMM's warhead makes it suitable for use against a wide range of ground targets including light/medium armour.
• Air-launched – The missile's modular design allows for future development and introduction of alternative warheads and seekers.
• Surface-to-air – 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.

FFLMM/Fury

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.

Surface to surface testing

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 intends to equip any more Type 23s with the system.

Operational history

The missile was used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to shoot down a Russian drone during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The missiles were donated by the UK as part of a package of military aid.

Operators

• United Kingdom - 1,000 missiles on order, deployed operationally with helicopters since May 2021

• Ukraine - Appeared being used in the surface-to-air role by Ukraine forces during the Russo-Ukrainian War

See also

• Sea Venom (missile) - FASGW(H)
• CRV7-PG
• Hermes (missile)
• Precision guided derivatives of Hydra 70 rocket
• Roketsan Cirit
• List of missiles

External links

• Britain orders 1,000 Thales LMM missiles
• Lightweight Multirole Missile Janes (archived)