US Navy Successfully Tests Missile System Against Swarming Small Boats

The US Navy has successfully tested a Longbow Hellfire missile system against multiple swarming small boats.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US Navy has successfully tested a Longbow Hellfire missile system to defend against multiple swarming small boats, the US Navy announced.

“The modified Longbow Hellfire missiles successfully destroyed a series of manoeuvring small boat targets,” the US Navy said on Thursday, announcing the results of tests conducted in June 2015.

The tests were carried out to evaluate the Longbow Hellfire launcher, the missile and its seeker in the face of multiple, high-speed manoeuvring small boats.

The Longbow Hellfire missile system detects, locates and prioritizes multiple moving targets to defend Navy ships. The system supports the 57mm gun, SEARAM missiles and armed MH-60 Sea Hawk helicopters on Navy ships in responding to threats.

The ability to hit multiple moving small targets comes as the US Navy faces an array of small boat threats around the globe.

Among US adversaries, Iran has shown its ability to use swarming tactics with hundreds of small boats to potentially strike US Navy ships in the Persian Gulf.