Missile Sea Wolf
Summary
| Category | Surface-to-Air Missiles |
| Sub-type | Radio-guided surface-to-air missile |
| Origin country | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | British Aerospace |
| Status | Retired |
| Year of service | 1979 |
Technical specifications
| Warhead | High Explosive |
| Warhead weight | 14 kg (31 lb) |
| Diameter | 300 mm (11.8 in) |
| Span | 450 mm (17.7 in) |
| Length | 1,900 mm (74.8 in) |
| Flight altitude | 3,050 m (10,007 ft) |
| Weight | 82 kg (181 lb) |
| Range | 6.5 km (4.0 mi) |
| Max. speed | 3,700 km/h (Mach 3.7) |
Sea Wolf scale diagram
Operators
Description
Sea Wolf was developed to meet a 1964 requirement for a replacement for the Seacat system. A development contract was issued in 1967, and testing was conducted between 1970 and 1977. Shipborne trials began in 1976, and the system entered service in 1979.
The system is an automated point-defense weapon designed to intercept sea-skimming and high-angle anti-ship missiles as well as aircraft. It utilizes Automatic Command to Line-Of-Sight (ACLOS) guidance via a microwave link to control the missile's rear fins. Target tracking is performed using radar and CCTV. Early variants used I-band radar, while later versions incorporated K-band radar to improve engagement of low-altitude targets. The missile is propelled by a solid-fuel sustainer rocket. The warhead is an HE blast-fragmentation type, triggered by direct contact or a proximity fuze.
The system was produced in two primary forms: the GWS-25 conventionally launched version and the GWS-26 vertical launch (VL) version. The VL variant employs a booster motor and thrust vectoring to orient the missile onto its flight path after launch. The Block 2 upgrade provided replenishment missiles and enhanced tracking capabilities, including infrared cameras and updated software.
The system has been deployed on Type 22, Type 23, and modified Leander-class frigates. It is operated by Brazil and Malaysia. Former operators include the United Kingdom and Chile, where the system has been replaced by the Sea Ceptor.
Combat use occurred during the Falklands War and the Gulf War. During the Falklands conflict, the system provided close anti-aircraft defense for carrier task forces. In May 1982, the system destroyed two A-4 Skyhawks and caused a third to crash. Operational challenges during the conflict included hardware failures and difficulty tracking multiple crossing targets at low altitudes. In one incident, a system reset delay and a subsequent loss of lock during ship maneuvers occurred during an attack that resulted in the sinking of a destroyer. The system recorded three confirmed kills from eight launches during the conflict.