France Tests Third Sea Venom Anti-Ship Missile from an Helicopter

The French Directorate General of Armament (DGA) and MBDA have tested third light anti-ship missile (ANL) or Sea Venom off the Levant (83-Var) island from a helicopter.

The tests were conducted on 14 November 2018 by the teams from the Directorate General of Armament (DGA) and MBDA at the Mediterranean Center site, DGA said in a statement Monday.

The Sea Venom test was about a medium range shot with identification and snapping of the target before shooting.

The ANL / Sea Venom program is a Franco-British cooperation that is part of the Lancaster House Treaty signed by France and the United Kingdom in November 2010. The ANL / Sea Venom missile is intended to equip helicopters with the Navy and the Royal Navy to combat a wide range of surface threats, from fast and manoeuvering patrol boats to corvettes, including coastal environments. The ANL / Sea Venom reference carrier for the Navy is the future Light Joint Helicopter (HIL).

The contract for the realization of the ANL / Sea Venom program was notified to the MBDA manufacturer on March 26, 2014 by DE & S (Defense Equipment and Support), the British counterpart of the DGA for the conduct of the weapons programs.