CAMM / Sea Ceptor air-defense missile

CAMM, marketed at sea as Sea Ceptor, is MBDA's naval air-defense missile for protecting ships and escorted shipping. Royal Navy frigate HMS Richmond used Sea Ceptor to shoot down two Houthi drones in the Red Sea Crisis in March 2024.

Red Sea CrisisUnited States-led coalition

Conflict side: United States-led coalition
Built by: MBDA
Built in: United Kingdom

CAMM / Sea Ceptor air-defense missile, Naval air-defense missile, Air Defense

Image source: HMS Richmond Sea Ceptor silo image page

Profile

Type: Naval air-defense missile
Conflict side: United States-led coalition
Origin: United Kingdom
Service note: In Royal Navy service from 2018; combat use reported in 2024

air defense counter-uav naval missileroyal navymbda

Service History

In service: Entered Royal Navy service in 2018 as Sea Ceptor on Type 23 frigates.
Used by: Royal Navy
Wars: Red Sea Crisis

Production History

Designer: MBDA
Designed: 2010s
Built by: MBDA
Built in: United Kingdom
Unit cost: Not publicly stated
Produced: 2010s-present
Number built: Not publicly stated
Variants: CAMM, Sea Ceptor

Specifications

Role: Naval air-defense missile
Range: Out to 25 km, with MBDA describing growth potential beyond 40 km in layered use
Guidance: Active radar terminal homing with mid-course updates
Launch: Soft-launch vertical launch system for ship integration

Conflict Usage

Red Sea Crisis: Side: United States-led coalitionRole: Shipboard area air defense against attack dronesair defense counter-uav
In the Red Sea Crisis, HMS Richmond used Sea Ceptor missiles to shoot down two Houthi attack drones while protecting merchant shipping.

CAMM / Sea Ceptor air-defense missile Images

CAMM / Sea Ceptor air-defense missile, Naval air-defense missile, Air Defense - view 1 — Source: HMS Richmond Sea Ceptor silo image page

CAMM / Sea Ceptor air-defense missile, Naval air-defense missile, Air Defense - view 2 — Source: CAMM missile image page

CAMM / Sea Ceptor air-defense missile, Naval air-defense missile, Air Defense - view 3 — Source: CAMM cropped image page

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Sources

SEA CEPTOR - MBDA SystemsPublisher: MBDA | Note: Official product page for Sea Ceptor naval air defense role and protected-shipping mission. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 SEA CEPTOR product sheetPublisher: MBDA | Note: Official MBDA brochure with Sea Ceptor performance and launch details. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 Royal Navy warship shoots down Houthi missilePublisher: UK Government | Note: Supports Red Sea Crisis direct use: HMS Richmond used Sea Ceptor missiles against Houthi drones in the southern Red Sea. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 Richmond completes Red Sea mission as Diamond resumes patrolsPublisher: Royal Navy | Note: Supports Red Sea Crisis direct use: HMS Richmond used Sea Ceptor in the Red Sea and the system was blooded in combat. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 HMS Richmond Sea Ceptor silo image pagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Open-license image page for HMS Richmond's Sea Ceptor launcher in the Red Sea. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 CAMM missile image pagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Open-license image page for the CAMM missile family image. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 CAMM cropped image pagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Open-license image page for the cropped CAMM missile family image. | Accessed: 2026-06-22