Image of HMS Defender firing it's Sea Viper missile, seen here off Scotland's Outer Hebrides and Norway's Arctic coast.
Image of HMS Defender firing it's Sea Viper missile, seen here off Scotland's Outer Hebrides and Norway's Arctic coast.
  • The UK is planning to upgrade the missiles that it's used to destroy Houthi drones in the Red Sea.
  • Sea Viper, an advanced air-defense system, is getting updated missiles and a software upgrade.
  • The UK's defense ministry said the improvements will enable them to defeat ballistic missiles. 

The UK plans to upgrade the missiles that one of the Royal Navy's warships has used to shoot down Houthi drones. These engagements have been part of ongoing fight in which Western militaries are trying to stop the Iran-backed rebels from attacking vessels off the coast of Yemen.