Brimstone (anti-tank guided missile)

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Brimstone

MBDA Brimstone
MBDA Brimstone

General Information
Type Air-to-surface anti-tank missile
Manufacturer Alenia Marconi Systems (now MBDA ), Boeing
development 1996-2004
Commissioning 1999
Technical specifications
length 1800 mm
diameter 178 mm
Combat weight 48.5 kg
span 300 mm
drive Orbital ATK solid rocket motor
Range approx. 12 km +
Furnishing
Target location Active millimeter wave radar (94 GHz) with image recognition
Warhead 6.5 kg tandem shaped load
Weapon platforms Eurofighter , Panavia Tornado
Lists on the subject

Brimstone (German: , sulfur ' ) is a British anti-tank missile ( English: abbr .: ATGM for Anti Tank Guided Missile ) made by MBDA for the Royal Air Force is being built. In principle, it represents an adaptation of the concept of the helicopter-based AGM-114 Hellfire to the high speeds of fighter jets .

development

In the early 1980s, the British Ministry of Defense made a request for an ATGM that can be launched by supersonic fighter aircraft . However, with the end of the Cold War , the program was discontinued. After the Gulf War, the lack of a suitable anti-tank weapon was recognized, so the Royal Air Force resumed the program in 1994. Among a multitude of suggestions, the decision was made in favor of the company GEC Marconi, which together with Boeing sketched a modified AGM-114 Hellfire . Problems quickly arose because the Hellfire was not suitable for the high loads of the jets. In the end, a missile that was new except for the control surfaces was developed. On September 28, 2000, the first of a series of test shots took place. In the meantime, Alenia Marconi Systems became part of the MBDA . Development was completed in 2001 and the missile was delivered. The Royal Air Force has been using the guided missile since 2005 and, according to its own information, has successfully used it for close air support in Iraq and Afghanistan. A new variant of the Brimstone, the Dual Mode Brimstone, with an additional semi-active laser seeker head has been used for this purpose since 2008 .

technology

The Brimstone uses an active radar seeker in the 94 GHz band to search for a target . The rocket also has a digital autopilot and an INS .

The weapon has a tandem hollow charge with a 300 g sub-charge and a 6.2 kg main charge, which is also able to penetrate modern reactive armor. The system is designed to detect and attack tanks, armored vehicles and other vehicles. A solid motor accelerates the rocket to supersonic speed in a short time and then continues to burn in maintenance mode.

variants

  • Brimstone: initial version with millimeter wave radar seeker head.
  • Dual-Mode Brimstone: Version with semi-active laser seeker head .
  • Brimstone 2: Improved version with a modular structure with various search and warheads and increased range. In development since 2010 and in production in 2014, in use since July 2016.
  • Brimstone Sea Spear: Version for fighting small ships and boats. In development since 2011.

commitment

The first mission took place at the British participation in the war in Afghanistan . In June 2009, a Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 fighter-bomber fired Brimstone guided missiles at targets in Afghanistan.

The next operation took place in the context of the international military operation in Libya to enforce Resolution 1973 of the UN Security Council . On March 25, 2011, Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 fighter-bombers fired an unknown number of Brimstones which destroyed seven Libyan Army's T-72 main battle tanks .

The Brimstone was also used against the Islamic State .

Users

The weapon is used by the Royal Saudi Air Force and the Royal Air Force (RAF). The RAF uses the Brimstone on the Tornado and on the Eurofighter . The RAF uses a reusable triple starter for this.

Germany plans to procure dual-mode Brimstone 2 for 2019.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ First Brimstone Missile Flight Test Successful ( Memento from January 12, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Press release from Boeing on August 23, 1999
  2. ^ Second Brimstone Missile Flight Test Successful ( Memento from January 12, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Boeing press release from November 22, 1999
  3. ↑ http://www.orbitalatk.com/defense-systems/missile-products/brimstone-rocket-motor/ accessed on February 2, 2016
  4. ↑ Janes's International Defense Review Vol. 43, March 2010, p. 6.
  5. ^ "Dual Mode Brimstone Entered Service on Tornado Gr4 Aircraft" on Deagel.com; Accessed November 8, 2010
  6. ↑ Nicholas de Larrinaga: Farnborough 2016: Brimstone 2 enters service, begins Apache trials. In: IHS Jane's Defense Weekly. janes.com, July 14, 2016, accessed July 15, 2016 .
  7. ^ RAF launches attacks on Gaddafi armor. The Telegraph, March 25, 2011, accessed August 20, 2013 .
  8. ↑ Tages-Anzeiger : Breakdowns - food and ammunition for IS , accessed on October 16, 2014
  9. ↑ Use of the Brimstone by the British Royal Air Force (accessed on Aug. 12, 2009)
  10. ↑ Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Engels: The armament of the Eurofighter . In: Mittler Report Verlag (Ed.): European Security & Technology . 11,000 copies. November issue, No. 11/16 . Mittler Report Verlag, ISSN  2193-746X , p. 63 .

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