The UK Navy has successfully test fired the new Sea Viper air defence missile for the first time from a Type 45 Destroyer, the Ministry of Defence has said.

HMS Dauntless fired an Aster 30 missile at the MoD’s range in the Hebrides and successfully hit a moving target drone.

Sea Viper is the navy’s version of the MBDA-designed PAAMS (principal anti-air missile system), which consists of Sampson radar, a combat and control system, the Sylver missile-launching system and Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles.

The missile is capable of defending the new Type 45 fleet and accompanying ships against multiple attacks from sophisticated aircraft and missiles.

Commanding officer of HMS Dauntless Captain Richard Powell said the firing was part of the completion of a series of trials of Sea Viper before the ship’s formal acceptance into the Royal Navy.