Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster seized weapons from a boat suspected of smuggling anti-tank missiles and ballistic missile components after a high-speed chase in the Gulf.
Royal Marines of 42 Commando from HMS Lancaster, which was on routine maritime security patrol in the region, pounced on a speed boat after scrambling its Wildcat helicopter to track the vessel darting through international waters.
The boat had been travelling south from Iran and the smugglers tried to evade the 815 Naval Air Squadron helicopter and ignored every radio call demanding them to stop – instead steering their craft towards Iranian territorial waters.
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However, they were intercepted by the British frigate before they could do so.
Royal Navy bomb disposal and ordnance specialists checked the weapons to ensure they were safe to bring them back on board Lancaster for inspection.
A US fixed-wing intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platform had detected the suspected smuggling vessel travelling at high speed in international waters in the Gulf of Oman during the hours of darkness.
The vessel was then tracked by HMS Lancaster's Wildcat helicopter.
According to the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the smugglers initially ignored hails from the Royal Navy and attempted to navigate to Iranian territorial waters but were apprehended before they could do so.
In accordance with international law, a team of Royal Marines stopped and boarded the vessel, discovering suspicious packages which were recovered to HMS Lancaster.
Initial inspection suggested that the packages included anti-tank guided missiles (Iranian versions of the Russian 9M133 Kornet, known in Iran as 'Dehlavieh'), and medium-range ballistic missile components.
The United Nations has been informed about the seizure and invited to conduct its own inspection of the material, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions 2216 and 2231.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: "This seizure by HMS Lancaster and the permanent presence of the Royal Navy in the Gulf region supports our commitment to uphold international law and tackle activity that threatens peace and security around the world."
Commander Paul Irving, Commanding Officer of HMS Lancaster, said: "This boarding was a fantastic team effort, and I'm really proud of the way the whole ship's company worked together to achieve such a brilliant result.
"The Wildcat helicopter was able to locate and stop the skiff after being cued on by a UAS (unmanned aircraft system) operated by our American partners.
"Our Royal Marine Boarding Team then intercepted the skiff and carried out a search which revealed the weapons."
He added: "Royal Navy EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) specialists checked the weapons to ensure that they were safe to bring them back on board Lancaster."
This latest seizure follows two in the region by the Royal Navy in early 2022 of Iranian advanced conventional weapons.
The UK maintains a permanent presence in the Middle East. In November, after four years of continuous service in the region, HMS Montrose handed over the responsibility to HMS Lancaster.
A Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship and three Mine Counter Measure Vessels are also based in the region, operating under the control of the UK Maritime Component Command.
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