BRIMSTONE Dual Mode
Brimstone is a ground or air-launched ground attack missile developed by MBDA UK for the UK's Royal Air Force. It was originally intended for "fire-and-forget" use against mass formations of enemy armour, using a millimetre wave (mmW) active radar homing seeker to ensure accuracy even against moving targets. Experience in Afghanistan led to the addition of laser guidance in the dual-mode Brimstone missile, allowing a "spotter" to pick out specific and the highest priority targets, particularly useful to minimise collateral damage when friendly forces or civilians were in the area. The tandem shaped-charge warhead is much more effective against modern tanks than older similar weapons such as the AGM-65G Maverick missile. Three Brimstones are carried on a launcher that occupies a single weapon station, allowing a single aircraft to carry many missiles.
The original Brimstone could not be used in Afghanistan as the rules of engagement required a "man-in-the-loop". Under an Urgent Operational Requirement in 2008, modifications were made to the seeker and software of over 300 existing missiles to create Dual-Mode Brimstone. The new missiles can be laser guided according to the STANAG 3733 standard as well as retaining the millimetre wave seeker; the pilot can select either mode from the cockpit or use both simultaneously. Laser guidance allows specific enemy targets to be picked out in cluttered environments, the mmW radar ensures accuracy against moving targets.
The development and procurement of the original single-mode missiles cost £370m, a figure inflated by accounting charges relating to the delays. The development of the dual-mode version cost an additional £10m. The Daily Telegraph reported that the dual mode missiles cost £105,000, which is comparable to the cost of the AGM-65 Maverick; the MoD quote only a gross book value of £175,000, which includes development costs as well as the purchase cost of the missile. Upgrading a single-mode missile to dual mode costs between £35,000 and £45,000 plus VAT, depending on quantities ordered.
| Real World against Arma | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Detail | Real | ARMA | Config Value |
| Weapon Type | AGM | weaponType = "x"; | |
| Mass | 49 | 49 | mag: mass = "n"; |
| Warhead Mass | 9 | 255 | ammo: hit = "n"; (Proportionate Value mass vs hit ref Mk82) |
| Warhead Type | HEAT | HEAT | ammo: warheadName = "x"; |
| Fuse Type | Laser Prox | NOTE: No Direct Arma value | |
| Fuse Range | 5 | 20 | ammo: proximityExplosionDistance = n; |
| Seeker | Radar, Laser | Radar, Laser | See class component type |
| Auto Seek Target | No | No | ammo: autoseektarget = n; (0 or 1) |
| Counter Measure Immunity | High | 0.95 | ammo: cmimmunity = n; (Range 0 > 1) |
| Camera View Available | Yes | Yes | ammo: cameraViewAvailable = n; (0 or 1) |
| Flight Profile | Direct, Top Down | Direct, Top Down | ammo: flightProfiles[] = {"<TYPE>"}; |
| BoreSight Angle | 90 | 100 | ammo: missileLockCone = n; (Degrees) |
| Max Speed (m/s) | 450 | 450 | ammo: maxSpeed = n; (n= m/s) |
| Min Range | 0.5km | 500 | ammo: minRange = n; (Dist in m) |
| Max Range | 20km | 9000 | ammo: maxRange = n; (Dist in m) |
| Indirect Hit Value | 90 | ammo: indirectHit = 50; | |
| Indirect Hit Range | 8 | ammo: indirectHitRange = n; (m) | |
| Maneuverability | 32 G | 42 | ammo: maneuvrability = n; (Higher = more agile) |
| Danger Radius Hit | N/A | ammo: DangerRadiusHit = n; (Dist for AI aware in m) | |
| Suppression Radius Hit | N/A | ammo: SuppresionRadiusHit = n; (Dist for AI suppresion in m) | |
| Pylon/Rail | Single, triple Launcher | N/A See Hardpoint below | |
| ARMA Class details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ammo | Mag | Weapon | Hardpoint |
| rksl_amo_brimstone_dm | rksl_mag_brimstone_dm_x1_direct | rksl_wpn_brimstone_dm | BRIMSTON_DM_DIRECT |
| rksl_mag_brimstone_dm_x3_triplerack | BRIMSTON_DM_TRIPLE | ||
| rksl_mag_brimstone_dm_x3_triplerack_rear | BRIMSTON_DM_TRIPLE_REAR | ||