“Action stations!” a voice barks.
The crew of a Royal Navy destroyer is on high alert for enemy drones – launched from the air and from the water.
“Maximum air threat,” the voice says.
A helicopter, already airborne, uses a missile to take out an incoming drone from a distance, while the ship’s guns open fire on a small uncrewed vessel racing towards it.
The action, using live rounds, unfolded on Tuesday off the Welsh coast as HMS Dauntless, a Type 45 destroyer, took part in an exercise to prepare for a major deployment to Asia in the coming weeks alongside one of the UK’s two aircraft carriers.
The voyage could take the carrier strike group through hostile waters, including within range of Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
It means the heavily-armed destroyer – a key layer of defence for HMS Prince of Wales – may come under attack for real.
Luke Pollard, the armed forces minister, said the ship was well prepared.
“If anyone were to threaten our carrier, they should be in no doubt that we possess formidable capabilities to defend ourselves, to defend every ship in that task force,” he told Sky News, speaking onboard Dauntless, having watched part of the training.
Escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran may also impact the long-planned trip.
Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Iran if the regime does not reach an agreement with Washington over its nuclear programme.
Asked whether the UK would divert its warships to support the US – if requested – should it attack Iran, Mr Pollard said: “The advantage of naval power is that it always presents options, so there’s always options in support of our national security objectives.
“That’s why, when the carrier sails shortly for the Indo-Pacific, there’s options for her entire deployment as to how we use that power.”
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Practising their defensive drills, the crew of HMS Dauntless, commanded by Commander Ben Dorrington, used radars and binoculars to scan the area for enemy drones.
A large portion of the exercise involved simulated threats, such as pretend swarms of aerial drones and uncrewed vessels, cruise missiles and hostile jets
But there were also a number of real unmanned aerial systems and uncrewed attack boats for training. Drone vessels, packed with explosives, are an emerging maritime threat. Ukraine has used them to great effect against Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
Sky News watched as fixed guns on one side of the destroyer opened fire on an uncrewed vessel that was playing the part of the enemy.
The weapons included a cannon called Phalanx, which can pump out 3,000 rounds of armour-piercing shells a minute.
Rounds could be seen piercing the water. The gunners then took out the boat, with flames and smoke rising out of it.
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Despite some cutting-edge capabilities, the Royal Navy’s fighting capacity is increasingly finite after decades of defence cuts.
The government has announced plans to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, but many defence insiders say the increase is too small and too slow.
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Mr Pollard defended the policy, pointing to an extra £5bn in the budget this year.
“We know the world is more dangerous, we know threats towards the UK and our allies are increasing, and that’s why we’re investing in defence.”
