MBDA has successfully demonstrated its Dual Mode BRIMSTONE missile against fast moving and manoeuvring Fast Inshore Attack Craft even in a cluttered environment with multiple neutral vessels in very close proximity.
Conducted in March and April 2014 at the QinetiQ managed Aberporth range in west Wales, UK, an RAF Tornado GR4 aircraft fired two Dual Mode BRIMSTONE missiles (one telemetry and one operational), each fitted with MBDA’s latest Anti-FIAC software upgrades, at remotely controlled, 40ft ASV C13 Fast Inshore Attack Craft targets powered by twin 350hp engines.
The telemetry missile achieved a direct hit on the FIAC’s engines with the target operating at its maximum achievable speed in ‘low sea state 4’ conditions. The operational missile achieved a direct hit at the rear of the second FIAC’s cabin, destroying and sinking the target which was operating at maximum achievable speeds in ‘sea state 3’ conditions. Missile impact occurred whilst the target was within very close proximity to three neutral vessels. The target was destroyed and sunk with the single shot and with no collateral damage to the neutral vessels.
These tests confirmed Dual Mode BRIMSTONE’s first pass precision and lethality against challenging targets in stressing environments. The dual mode Semi-Active Laser and active MMW (millimetric wave) radar seeker works in tandem to provide a unique ability to selectively engage a specific target irrespective of target speed or manoeuvre even when in cluttered, congested and high collateral risk environments.
BRIMSTONE is an extremely capable weapon for the engagement of moving and manoeuvring targets, and targets in high collateral risk environments as recently demonstrated from Tornado GR4 and RPAS, both achieving direct hits against high speed and manoeuvring targets.
These new trials confirm the versatility of a single missile to be able to engage a diverse range of land and maritime targets in the most challenging of environments. Already demonstrated from land, two fast jet types and remotely piloted aircraft, BRIMSTONE provides a true multi-role / multi-platform approach and first pass lethality to reduce whole life cost ownership of complex weapons.