GWS-25 Sea Wolf
Conventionally Launched Sea Wolf
Overview
GWS-25 Sea Wolf
Sea Wolf missile seen upon launch.
Source: Royal Navy -
© Crown copyright
Brazil
Chile
System composition
Sea Wolf missile
The Sea Wolf missile uses active command to line of sight guidance. It has four larger swept wings in the center and four control surfaces near the muzzle of the solid propellant rocket motor. In 2005 a Block 2 missile was introduced which uses some internal components from the ASRAAM missile.
Sextuple launcher
GWS-25 Sea Wolf uses a sextuple launcher. The launcher is unmanned and slewed onto target by the firing computer. Additional missiles are stored in transport containers below deck. Reloading is done by hand.
Type 910 tracker
Early model tracker fitted with an I-band radar. Since this radar type has difficulties with ground clutter a secondary TV guidance mode is added. This has the operator guiding the missile by centering the camera on the target.
Type 911 tracker
Improved tracker using two types of radar. An I-band radar for longer range and higher altitude targets. A K-band radar is intoduced for sea skimming targets. The TV system is retained for observing targets. The manual TV guidance option is no longer available.
Details
Media
GWS-25 Sea Wolf
GWS-25 Sea Wolf system seen on a Type 22 frigate. Note the Type 911 tracker at the top of the picture.
Source: Royal Navy
Copyright: Crown copyright
GWS-25 Sea Wolf
Sea Wolf missile on display in a museum.
Source: Chase me ladies, I'm the Cavalry
Copyright: CC BY-SA 3.0
GWS-25 Sea Wolf
Close-up of the sextuple launcher for the GWS-25 Sea Wolf system.
Source: Royal Navy
Copyright: Crown copyright
GWS-25 Sea Wolf
Sea Wolf missile being launched from its sextuple launcher.
Source: Royal Navy
Copyright: Crown copyright
Related articles
GWS-26 Sea Wolf
The GWS-26 Vertical Launch Sea Wolf is the successor of the GWS-25.