Moment Royal Navy helicopter shoots down drone with deadly new missile in first-of-a-kind operation - as the Senior Service shores up its aerial defences

The Royal Navy has released incredible behind-the-scenes footage of a first-of-its-kind trial mission in which its new helicopter missile shoots down a drone without crew assistance.

Firing the Martlet missile from a Wildcat combat chopper, the video shows a Banshee drone being directly hit and taken down out of the air at hundreds of miles an hour over the Bristol Channel.

The drill took place at RAF base Manorbier in South Wales and signifies an vital improvement in the armed forces capabilities in dealing with the very modern threat of drones.

Earlier this year, a Navy helicopter faced an attack whilst aboard warship HMS Destroyer when Houthi rebels launched drones in the Red Sea and Yemeni Gulf.

Speaking in the aftermath of the trial, Wildcat pilot Lieutenant Dave Guest said the success of the unmanned missile system was a huge boost to the Navys defensive arsenal.

Its really important that we can demonstrate the Wildcats effectiveness in engaging targets such as uncrewed systems - and that we can do so on our own, without requiring the assistance of other assets, Lieutenant Guest said at RAF Manorbier. 

In footage released by the Royal Navy, a Wildcat combat helicopter can be seen tailing and ultimately destroying a Banshee drone with a new high-tech missile system

The Banshee drone which was launched into the air over the Bristol channel

The incredible moment in which the Navys new Martlet missile system can be seen taking out the Banshee drone

The view from the Wildcat chopper as the Martlet missile system destroys the Banshee drone

Wildcat pilot Lieutenant Dave Guest (pictured) said the success of the unmanned missile system was a huge boost to the Navys defensive arsenal

Over the course of the two-day trial, the Royal Navy tested out its new autonomous weaponry by sending Banshee drones into the sky via a ramp.

In the video shared by the Navy, the drone can be witnessed flying across the Bristol Channel skyline with a helicopter trailing in pursuit.

Ultimately intercepting the drone, the new Martlet missile can be seen hitting and destroying the drone in a ball of flames.

The Martlet missile has been specifically designed with its lightweight build and laser-guided target locator to be deployed against a host of small and manoeuvrable targets such as fast attack craft, jet skis, and speedboats.  

Commander James Woods, Commanding Officer of 815 Naval Air Squadron, stated that the trial was a fantastic development as the Navy continues in its advancements towards neutralising airborne threats.