MBDA’s
combat proven, UK developed, Brimstone missile carried out the world’s
first surface to surface salvo engagement of multiple Fast In-shore
Attack Craft (FIAC) threats with a single button push. The success
of the trial has shown Brimstone’s unrivalled ability to swiftly
strike numerous individual vessels without the need to laboriously
designate each target, thereby demonstrating its prowess as a fire
and forget maritime surface attack weapon.
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On the
29th May 2013, three millimetric wave operational Brimstone missiles
were launched in a rapid salvo of less than a second against a simulated
attack formation of five representative FIACs. The three missiles independently
acquired and engaged their respective targets at a distance between
4km and 5km (constrained by range safety); direct hits resulted in extensive
structural damage to the three leading vessels, including one travelling
at around 20 knots. The missiles were launched from a surface trials
platform using a Brimstone triple rail launcher in conditions of sea
state 3.
This exceptional achievement follows on from a previously undisclosed,
successful surface launch trial against a single static FIAC on the
6th April 2013. Instead of a warhead the missile carried a telemetry
unit to transmit trials data. The missile acquired and identified the
target with a subsequent direct hit on the vessel’s control cabin,
with the missile passing through the hull at the rear of the craft causing
the target to sink.
The Brimstone programme is run by MBDA UK’s team in Stevenage,
Hertfordshire while both of these trials were carried out off the west
coast of Scotland with range support provided by QinetiQ.
Brimstone is being proposed by MBDA UK as a surface attack missile for
deployment within the Sea Spear system against FIACs and other small
surface threats in all weather environments. As an effective maritime
Force Protection capability, it rapidly provides significant utility
beyond the range of medium calibre naval gun systems. With a range of
deck-mounted launcher options, from single to six-pack configurations,
the system’s very small footprint gives it a high level of deck
positioning flexibility making it suitable for small vessels such Fast
Attack Craft as well as much larger vessels such as auxiliary ships.
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