The new Sea Viper air defence missile system demonstrated its ability to protect air, land and sea forces during a second, successful test firing. The missile system was successfully test-fired from the 12,000 tonne trials barge Longbow, near the Ile du Levant off the French coast.

The Longbow barge has a full replica of the air defence equipment the new Type 45 destroyers will carry, including long-range and missile directing radars, a combat control centre and missiles in their vertical launcher silos.

Sea Viper is a highly sophisticated system that has been designed to allow the new Type 45 Destroyer to protect forces, both at sea and over land, against attack by enemy aircraft, as well as defending the fleet against anti-ship missiles approaching from any direction and at supersonic speeds.

MOD Defence Equipment and Support (DE and S) Medium Range Air Defence Weapons Team Leader, David Emly, said:

"This test was much more difficult with the target simulating a low-level anti-ship missile at close range and so I am very pleased with the result as it demonstrates that the Type 45 Destroyer's powerful Anti-Air Warfare capability is on track to be delivered in 2010."

Integral to the Sea Viper system is the Sampson Multi Function Radar which tracks targets and directs missiles towards them. This element is a bespoke design developed by BAE Systems to meet the Royal Navy's very specific requirements.

This latest success comes hot on the heels of the recent arrival of the first Type 45 destroyer, HMS Daring, into her home port of Portsmouth for the first time in January. Integrating the Sea Viper system is the main focus of the ship's remaining trials before she is declared ready for service.