Martlet (missile)

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

Lightweight Multirole Missile
Martlet
Schiebel Camcopter S-100 UAV fitted with a Lightweight Multirole Missile
TypeLight Air-to-surface and surface-to-surface missile
Place of originUnited Kingdom
Service history
In service2021 (initial operating capability); full operating capability expected 2024[1][2]
Used byRoyal Navy
Production history
ManufacturerThales Air Defence
Specifications
Mass13 kg (28.6 lb)
Length1.3 m (4 ft 3 inches)
Diameter76 mm (3 inches)
Warhead3 kg (6.6 lb)
Detonation
mechanism
Laser proximity sensor
Propellant2-stage solid propellant
Operational
range
8 km (5 miles)
Maximum speed Mach 1.5
Guidance
system
Multi-mode guidance (Laser beam riding and/or semi-active laser guidance & terminal infrared homing)
Launch
platform
Wildcat

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.[3] However, initial operating capability has been considerably delayed and is now expected in 2021 with full operating capability anticipated in 2024.[1][4] The missile was given the name "Martlet" in British service.[5]

History

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.[6] Development began in 2008 and the LMM uses technology from an earlier Thales (formerly Shorts Missile Systems) missile, the Starstreak.[7] 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 includes the design, development and qualification of a laser beam rider version of LMM, together with production of an initial quantity of 1,000 missiles. These will be operated from the new AgustaWestland AW159 helicopters[3] 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 have shown helicopters carrying twin seven-round launchers. These were due to enter service in 2015 but where considerably delayed. The contract was funded by a deal to "re-role previously contracted budgets to facilitate the full-scale development, series production and introduction of the LMM." In other words, other contract(s) were cut and the funds switched to paying for LMM. The most likely contract affected is for Starstreak, which is approaching the end of its term.

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

Description

LMM is intended to provide a single family of weapons that can be used in different modes, including:[8]

  • Maritime – LMM will be carried on the new Lynx 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.[9]
  • 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.[10]

The LMMs in the initial batch use laser beam riding with infrared terminal homing and a laser proximity sensor, although a semi-active laser version is under development for precision surface attack roles.

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 (12.7 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.[11][12][13]

Surface to surface testing

In early 2019 HMS Sutherland tested a modified mounting for the 30mm 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 30mm 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 30mm, 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.[14]

Operators

 United Kingdom - 1,000 missiles on order (Expected to enter service in 2021)

See also

References
  1. In focus: the Wildcat multi role helicopter in service with the Royal Navy, savetheroyalnavy.org, 4 February 2019
  2. https://www.savetheroyalnavy.org/the-martlet-missile-wildcat-helicopter-gets-its-claws/
  3. "Britain orders 1,000 Thales LMM missiles".
  4. https://www.savetheroyalnavy.org/the-martlet-missile-wildcat-helicopter-gets-its-claws/
  5. Type 26 Global Combat Ship (PDF), Ministry of Defence, 9 October 2014, p. 3, retrieved 24 November 2014
  6. "Thales's Lightweight Multirole Missile on show at IMDEX - Thales UK". Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  7. "Direct Sting: Thales Small LMM / FASGW-L Missiles". Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  8. "First production contract for Thales's Lightweight Multi-role Missile announced - Thales UK". Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  9. "Defense & Security Intelligence & Analysis". IHS Jane's. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013.
  10. "Royal Marines Unleash New Lightweight Missiles". Royal Navy. 4 July 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  11. Thales Reveals 6-Kg Glide Bomb For UAVs - Aviationweek.com, 14 July 2015
  12. Textron's big hopes for its small guided bomb, Flightglobal.com, 14 July 2014
  13. Mini-Munitions Drawing Big Attention - Defensenews.com, 14 July 2014
  14. "Navy's new anti-ship missile bang on target". www.royalnavy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. 16 July 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2019.

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