United Kingdom - March 31, 2025 Cardigan Bay, UK - HMS Dauntless, a Type 45 Air Defence Destroyer, is currently engaged in Exercise SHARPSHOOTER in the Cardigan Bay area. The warship took the spotlight during a demanding five-day training session. It showcased its advanced weaponry, radars, and sensors, designed to counter various threats. HMS Dauntless made history as the first Type-45 to tackle persistent Banshee drone attacks in a training setting. The exercise plunges the crew into a realistic war fighting scenario. The destroyer successfully shot down swarms of drones, marking its final test before joining the UK’s carrier strike group deployment to the Indo-Pacific later this year. Exercise SHARPSHOOTER provides the crew with the most lifelike combat simulation yet. It mirrors the real-world scenario when HMS Diamond downed Houthi drones and missiles last year. Over 350 personnel are involved in the exercise. Royal Navy specialists and QinetiQ, a British defence and security firm, lead the training, highlighting the Navy’s efforts to adapt to modern threats.