Royal Navy ship shoots down ballistic missile in combat for first time
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A Royal Navy warship has shot down an enemy ballistic missile in combat for the first time, Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, has said.
HMS Diamond intercepted the weapon, which was fired by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels at a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden, on Wednesday.
The Type 45 destroyer’s Sea Viper missile system swung into action to down the Iranian-made missile after it was fired from nearby Yemen.
It was the first time a Navy warship had shot down a missile of any kind in combat since the Gulf War in 1991, when HMS Gloucester, a Type 42 destroyer, took out an Iraqi Silkworm missile that had been fired at a US warship.
“I want to thank the brave crew of HMS Diamond for her vital role in saving innocent lives and protecting international shipping from illegal Houthi attacks,” Mr Shapps said.
Commander Peter Evans, the commanding officer of HMS Diamond, said: “I’m immensely proud of the ship’s company, whose professionalism meant they were able to react in a split second to defeat the threat today. As ever, Diamond is ready to protect seafarers and ensure the freedom of the seas.”
HMS Diamond has been deployed in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since March as part of the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect commercial vessels.
The Houthis announced on Wednesday that they had targeted the Maersk Yorktown vessel and an American warship in the Gulf of Aden.
US military officials said the attack had been thwarted by a member of the Western coalition “successfully engaging” an anti-ship ballistic missile.
The intercepted weapon was believed to be either the Iranian-made Fateh-110 short-range ballistic missile or the longer-ranged Zolfaghar, a mobile missile capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 435 miles.
HMS Diamond was dispatched to the region to replace HMS Richmond after that warship successfully shot down two Houthi drones in the southern Red Sea using Sea Ceptor missiles, becoming the first Navy vessel to fire them in combat.
Diamond’s Sea Viper system, used to launch Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles, is a key pillar of the UK’s air defence strategy.
The missiles are known for their precision and long-range capabilities, able to intercept targets at a range of around 40 miles and at an altitude of 11 miles.
Phalanx machine-guns and 30mm cannons are also mounted on each side of HMS Diamond, with the latter used to down a Houthi drone.
The Houthi rebel group – which supports Hamas in the war against Israel – has launched more than 50 attacks on commercial shipping, seized one vessel and sunk another since November, according to the US Maritime Administration.
