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Marlet
TechnologyGB

Marlet

Lightweight multirole missile developed for Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters.

Last refreshed: 12 May 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

Can a 13 kg British missile neutralise the IRGC's fast-boat swarms in the Strait of Hormuz?

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Common Questions
What is the Marlet missile?
Marlet (also known as the Lightweight Multirole Missile) is a British precision-guided missile developed by MBDA, carried by Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters for engaging small vessels and light surface targets.Source: MBDA / Royal Navy
Why does HMS Dragon carry Marlet missiles for Hormuz?
Marlet is optimised for engaging fast-attack boats, which form the core of the IRGC Navy's swarm tactics in the Strait of Hormuz. Dragon's Wildcat helicopters armed with Marlet give the ship asymmetric counter-swarm capability.Source: Royal Navy / MBDA
How effective is the Marlet missile against IRGC fast boats?
Marlet's semi-active laser guidance and low weight allow multiple engagements per sortie from a Wildcat helicopter; it is specifically optimised for the precision low-collateral engagements that fast-boat swarm interception requires.Source: MBDA

Background

Marlet (also known as the Lightweight Multirole Missile, or LMM) is a precision-guided missile developed by MBDA for the UK Ministry of Defence. Weighing approximately 13 kg, the missile is designed for air-launched engagement against surface vessels, small boats, vehicles, and light structures. It uses a semi-active laser seeker and is optimised for low-collateral, high-precision engagements in confined maritime environments. Marlet was declared in-service with the Royal Navy in 2021 and is the primary anti-surface weapon fitted to the Royal Navy's AW159 Wildcat maritime helicopters.

Marlet missiles are part of the armament of HMS Dragon's embarked Wildcat helicopters, confirmed in the Royal Navy's 11 May 2026 statement on Dragon's forward deployment toward the Middle East for a potential Hormuz security mission.

In a Hormuz context, Marlet's capabilities are relevant for counter-fast-boat operations: the IRGC Navy relies heavily on swarms of fast-attack craft for harassment and anti-shipping operations in the Strait. Marlet's precision and low weight allow a Wildcat to carry multiple rounds, enabling engagement of multiple small boats in a single sortie. The weapon gives Dragon's helicopter wing an asymmetric counter to the IRGC Navy's doctrine.

More questions
Who makes the Marlet missile?
Marlet is developed and manufactured by MBDA, a European missile systems company with UK, French, and Italian ownership.Source: MBDA