The Royal Navy has today revealed its 3D radar system which can track missiles - before knocking them out of the sky.
The cutting-edge system, called Artisan, will make it almost impossible for an enemy missile to hit a Royal Navy ship and was tested by 180 sailors onboard Type 23 frigate HMS Iron Duke off the coast of Portland, Dorset earlier today.
It tracked a sea-skimming target, before launching a Seawolf missile - which crashed into the object seconds later.
The dramatic moment, caught on camera by crew members, was the first time the system had been used to track a moving target ahead of a missile launch.
And it has been deemed a success - with experts saying the 'Artisan' system could be used by the Navy in the future to counter any threats in the skies.
'I’m pleased the team performed well and we achieved the firing quickly and efficiently,' said Lieutenant Commander Chris L’Amie, who directed the firing from the frigate’s operations room.
'It really boosted confidence in the new radar ahead of Iron Duke’s deployment.'
Astonishingly, the system can track up to 800 targets simultaneously - and can even register objects 125 miles away.
Artisan is being fitted to the Navy’s Type 23 frigates, as well as its two new aircraft carriers and assault ships Ocean and Albion.
It could also be the principal air radar of the thirteen Type 26 combat ships, successor to the 23s, which enter service next decade.
Enemies beware: Royal Navy shows off its latest radar system which can knock missiles out of the sky
New system, called 'Artisan', tested by Iron Duke sailors off coast of Portland today
It tracked sea-skimming target, before passing data to a Seawolf missile
Missile was then launched into the air and blasted the object out of sky
First time system had been used to track target ahead of missile launch
It can track 800 objects simultaneously - even if they are 125 miles away
It has been deemed a success - and could be used by Navy in the future
By Sophie Jane Evans
16 April 2014
Daily Mail
The Royal Navy has revealed its latest 3D radar system which can track missiles - before knocking them out of the sky.
The cutting-edge system, called 'Artisan', was tested by some 180 sailors on board HMS Iron Duke off the coast of Portland today.
It tracked a sea-skimming target, before launching a Seawolf missile - which crashed into the object seconds later.
Trial: The Royal Navy tested its 'Artisan' system on board HMS Iron Duke off the coast of Portland today. It tracked a target, before launching a Seawolf missile (above) - which crashed into the object seconds later
The dramatic moment, caught on camera by crew members, was the first time the system had been used to track a moving target ahead of a missile launch.
And it has been deemed a success - with experts saying the 'Artisan' system could be used by the Navy in the future to counter any threats in the skies.
'I’m pleased the team performed well and we achieved the firing quickly and efficiently,' said Lieutenant Commander Chris L’Amie, who directed the firing from the frigate’s operations room.
'It really boosted confidence in the new radar ahead of Iron Duke’s deployment.'
New technology: The dramatic moment, caught on camera by crew members, was the first time the system had been used to track a moving target ahead of a missile launch. Above, a sailor uses the 3D radar system
Frigate: And it has been deemed a success - with experts saying the 'Artisan' system could be used by the Navy in the future to counter any threats in the skies. Above, HMS Iron Duke, where the tests were carried out
Today, sailors used the system to track the target, which was being dragged along the surface of the sea by a long tow wire attached to an aircraft.
They then passed the data to the Seawolf missile to follow and shoot - before successfully blasting the object out of the sky with a direct hit, according to a Royal Navy statement.
The trial, which took place as the frigate made its way back to its home base in Portsmouth, followed eight weeks of tough training in Plymouth.
'We had just finished eight hard weeks of training where we’d used Seawolf in simulation mode to defend ourselves against hostile aircraft and missiles,' said Lt Cmdr L’Amie.
Blasting off: Sailors launch Seawolf missiles off the deck of HMS Iron Duke using Artisan - or 997 - software
“To cap off the training with a live shoot was hugely satisfying.'
Iron Duke is the first ship in Britain's fleet to have Artisan - also known as 997 in the Navy - and has been testing the system around the UK since completing a refit last year.
The revamp also saw her receive the latest version of Seawolf – a missile which has protected Navy frigates from air attack for more than 30 years.
Lieutenant Commander Jim Hyde, whose Short Range Air Defence (SHORAD) team is responsible for both Artisan and the upgraded Seawolf, was also on board Iron Duke for the successful shoot.
'Following a challenging trials and development programme, today was significant as it was the first time we have conducted a live firing with 997,' he said.
'It was rewarding to see both the new radar and the upgraded weapon system operate together perfectly, successfully demonstrating end-to-end combat system performance, and validating a lot of hard work done by agencies across MOD and in industry.'
At work: The system can track 800 targets simultaneously - and can even register objects 125 miles away
Artisan is being fitted to the Navy’s Type 23 frigates, as well as its two new aircraft carriers and assault ships Ocean and Albion.
It could also be the principal air radar of the Type 26 combat ships, successor to the 23s, which enter service next decade.
Astonishingly, the system can track up to 800 targets simultaneously - and can even register objects 125 miles (200 kilometres) away.
HMS Ocean
The cutting-edge system, called Artisan, will make it almost impossible for an enemy missile to hit a Royal Navy ship and was tested by 180 sailors onboard Type 23 frigate HMS Iron Duke off the coast of Portland, Dorset earlier today.
It tracked a sea-skimming target, before launching a Seawolf missile - which crashed into the object seconds later.
The dramatic moment, caught on camera by crew members, was the first time the system had been used to track a moving target ahead of a missile launch.
And it has been deemed a success - with experts saying the 'Artisan' system could be used by the Navy in the future to counter any threats in the skies.
'I’m pleased the team performed well and we achieved the firing quickly and efficiently,' said Lieutenant Commander Chris L’Amie, who directed the firing from the frigate’s operations room.
'It really boosted confidence in the new radar ahead of Iron Duke’s deployment.'
Astonishingly, the system can track up to 800 targets simultaneously - and can even register objects 125 miles away.
Artisan is being fitted to the Navy’s Type 23 frigates, as well as its two new aircraft carriers and assault ships Ocean and Albion.
It could also be the principal air radar of the thirteen Type 26 combat ships, successor to the 23s, which enter service next decade.
Enemies beware: Royal Navy shows off its latest radar system which can knock missiles out of the sky
New system, called 'Artisan', tested by Iron Duke sailors off coast of Portland today
It tracked sea-skimming target, before passing data to a Seawolf missile
Missile was then launched into the air and blasted the object out of sky
First time system had been used to track target ahead of missile launch
It can track 800 objects simultaneously - even if they are 125 miles away
It has been deemed a success - and could be used by Navy in the future
By Sophie Jane Evans
16 April 2014
Daily Mail
The Royal Navy has revealed its latest 3D radar system which can track missiles - before knocking them out of the sky.
The cutting-edge system, called 'Artisan', was tested by some 180 sailors on board HMS Iron Duke off the coast of Portland today.
It tracked a sea-skimming target, before launching a Seawolf missile - which crashed into the object seconds later.
Trial: The Royal Navy tested its 'Artisan' system on board HMS Iron Duke off the coast of Portland today. It tracked a target, before launching a Seawolf missile (above) - which crashed into the object seconds later
The dramatic moment, caught on camera by crew members, was the first time the system had been used to track a moving target ahead of a missile launch.
And it has been deemed a success - with experts saying the 'Artisan' system could be used by the Navy in the future to counter any threats in the skies.
'I’m pleased the team performed well and we achieved the firing quickly and efficiently,' said Lieutenant Commander Chris L’Amie, who directed the firing from the frigate’s operations room.
'It really boosted confidence in the new radar ahead of Iron Duke’s deployment.'
New technology: The dramatic moment, caught on camera by crew members, was the first time the system had been used to track a moving target ahead of a missile launch. Above, a sailor uses the 3D radar system
Frigate: And it has been deemed a success - with experts saying the 'Artisan' system could be used by the Navy in the future to counter any threats in the skies. Above, HMS Iron Duke, where the tests were carried out
Today, sailors used the system to track the target, which was being dragged along the surface of the sea by a long tow wire attached to an aircraft.
They then passed the data to the Seawolf missile to follow and shoot - before successfully blasting the object out of the sky with a direct hit, according to a Royal Navy statement.
The trial, which took place as the frigate made its way back to its home base in Portsmouth, followed eight weeks of tough training in Plymouth.
'We had just finished eight hard weeks of training where we’d used Seawolf in simulation mode to defend ourselves against hostile aircraft and missiles,' said Lt Cmdr L’Amie.
Blasting off: Sailors launch Seawolf missiles off the deck of HMS Iron Duke using Artisan - or 997 - software
“To cap off the training with a live shoot was hugely satisfying.'
Iron Duke is the first ship in Britain's fleet to have Artisan - also known as 997 in the Navy - and has been testing the system around the UK since completing a refit last year.
The revamp also saw her receive the latest version of Seawolf – a missile which has protected Navy frigates from air attack for more than 30 years.
Lieutenant Commander Jim Hyde, whose Short Range Air Defence (SHORAD) team is responsible for both Artisan and the upgraded Seawolf, was also on board Iron Duke for the successful shoot.
'Following a challenging trials and development programme, today was significant as it was the first time we have conducted a live firing with 997,' he said.
'It was rewarding to see both the new radar and the upgraded weapon system operate together perfectly, successfully demonstrating end-to-end combat system performance, and validating a lot of hard work done by agencies across MOD and in industry.'
At work: The system can track 800 targets simultaneously - and can even register objects 125 miles away
Artisan is being fitted to the Navy’s Type 23 frigates, as well as its two new aircraft carriers and assault ships Ocean and Albion.
It could also be the principal air radar of the Type 26 combat ships, successor to the 23s, which enter service next decade.
Astonishingly, the system can track up to 800 targets simultaneously - and can even register objects 125 miles (200 kilometres) away.
HMS Ocean