MSPO 2020: MBDA presents new concept of mobile tank destroyer equipped with Brimstone missiles.

At MSPO 2020, the International Defense Exhibition in Poland, MBDA presents a new concept of mobile tank destroyer armored vehicle using Brimstone anti-tank missile mounted on Polish-made tracked or wheeled armored vehicles.

Artist drawing showing the concept of MBDA Brimstone anti-tank missile launcher pod mounted on a tracked armored vehicle. (Picture source MBDA)

The Brimstone was developed by MBDA to be used as an air-launched ground attack missile for the British Air Force. Brimstone has a Tandem Shaped Charge (TSC) warhead that employs a smaller initial charge, designed to initiate reactive armor, followed by a larger, more destructive charge, designed to penetrate and defeat the base armor.

The Brimstone is a lightweight (50 kg) strike missile with an advanced dual-mode mmW/SAL seeker offering a unique capability of engaging a wide range of target types, including fast-moving vehicles/vessels in both land and naval environments and in both direct and indirect modes.

Currently, the Brimstone is operational on combat aircraft and helicopter but it can also be operated on a wide range of UAVs, land, and ship platforms. The system is capable of engaging line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight targets, with a choice of engagement modes using digital targeting data provided over standard secure military networks fully interoperable with NATO.

According to drawing concept releases by MBDA showing armored vehicles fitted with the Brimstone, MBDA can integrate a launcher pod of eight ready-to-fire Brimstone anti-tank missiles on tracked armored vehicles or wheeled vehicles as the Rosomak 8x8 armored vehicle and the Zubr armored vehicle produced locally in Poland.

In September 2019, PGZ Companies of Poland and MBDA from the United Kingdom have signed a statement of co-operation to confirm readiness to co-operate on offering this solution to Poland and export markets, recognizing the combination of MBDA’s Brimstone missile with PGZ’s armored vehicle expertise offers the best solution for Poland’s Tank Destroyer requirement from a military capability, sovereignty and industrial perspective.

The Polish army has launched a program to acquire new tank destroyers based on armored vehicle platforms, in order to reinforce its anti-armor capabilities. Furthermore, the goal of this program is to replace obsolete combat vehicles that used the old Soviet-made 9P133 Malyutka anti-tank wire-guided missile system mounted on BMP-1 IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) and BRDM-2 4x4 armored vehicle.

Artist drawing showing the concept of MBDA Brimstone anti-tank missile launcher pod mounted on a Polish-made Rosomak wheeled armored vehicle. (Picture source MBDA)

Artist drawing showing the concept of MBDA Brimstone anti-tank missile launcher pod mounted on a Polish-made Zubr wheeled armored vehicle. (Picture source MBDA)