Royal Navy Wildcat Fires Martlet Missiles at Drones to Shield French Task Group

A Royal Navy Wildcat HMA2 helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron employed Thales Martlet lightweight missiles against unmanned targets during Exercise Wildfire 26.2 with French naval forces. Conducted off Toulon in late September and early October 2026, the training placed the helicopter in a protective role for a French maritime task group facing simulated aerial and surface threats. Martlet provides a precision weapon option suited to small, fast-moving targets that may not justify expenditure of larger shipborne missiles. The event was a multinational live-fire training activity, not an operational combat engagement or new missile procurement.