Missile delays have left our ships defenceless

BRITAIN’S main warships are “virtually defenceless” against the threat from fast attack vessels and suicide boats, defence experts warned last night.

It follows confirmation by the Ministry of Defence that the roll-out of Sea Venom, a helicopter-borne missile system designed to defend against this type of attack, has been pushed back by at least a year due to technical issues.

The delay leaves the Royal Navy’s new Wildcat helicopters, vital in protecting against these vessels, armed with just a machine gun until at least 2021.

While escort vessels do carry bigger weapons – such as the Harpoon missile system and 4.5-inch naval guns – they are ill-suited to tackling fast-moving boats.

Until last year warships were protected by the Sea Skua missile system carried by now defunct Lynx helicopters.

But this was axed to make way for the £500million Sea Venom upgrade.

NO DEFENCE: Wildcat helicopters will not have new missiles until 2021

The revolutionary system can target fast attack craft up to a range of 12 miles and, unlike Harpoon, its 30kg warhead is fully automated and can be re-targeted mid-flight.

But in its latest defence equipment plan, the MoD acknowledges the system, which had been earmarked for early 2020, will be delayed. It added: “It is likely we will have to declare a one-year slip to the system caused by emerging technical issues in the demonstration phase of delivery.” In the meantime, the threat is intensifying in hot-spots such as the Gulf of Aden and Strait of Hormuz.

In 2017 three suicide boats crewed by Houthi rebels rammed a Saudi warship off the coast of Yemen, killing two sailors.

Iran is also employing “swarm” craft in the Persian Gulf, used to transport a fifth of the world’s oil supplies. Its newer Zolfaghar fast attack boat can reach 70 knots (80mph) and has twin tubes for Nasr1 cruise missiles. It is claimed other anti-ship missiles have been adapted to these boats, including Shkval-E, a 200-knot torpedo with 4.5-mile range.

Keeping sea lanes clear is a key objective for the Royal Navy.

In October last year the Dragon, a Type 45 destroyer, was confronted by three Iranian fast-attack boats while patrolling the Strait of Hormuz. That time, the Iranians backed down as Dragon’s crew prepared to fire warning shots with its 4.5-inch gun. Its captain, Commander CarterQuinn, later acknowledged: “The day you don’t take it seriously is the day you become unstuck.”

However, defence experts last night said firing warning shots from “slow” weapons systems may not be enough to deter aggressors.

“This is a serious issue,” former destroyer captain Admiral Sir Jeremy Blackham.

“Fast attack boats are an increasing threat and we don’t have the capability to defend against them. Our 4.5 guns will have trouble firing against small targets. Even if you try to fire it horizontally the shell simply passes above them.”

Former First Sea Lord Admiral Lord West said: “During the Gulf War it was British Lynx helicopters carrying Sea Skua that destroyed the bulk of the Iraqi navy.

“The bottom line is that Sea Skua was a very effective missile system and they got rid of it too quickly.”

An MoD spokesman said: “Action is in hand to address key technical issues which cannot be disclosed for reasons of national security.” said Vice