MBDA’s Brimstone air-to-surface missile has successfully completed the first live test firing from a Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.
The live firing has been conducted as part of Phase 3 Enhancement (P3E) package for Typhoon.
Sensor and mission system upgrades are being provided to Typhoon as part of Project Centurion to ensure the smooth transition of Tornado GR4 capabilities for the UK Royal Air Force (RAF).
The UK’s Instrumented Production Aircraft (IPA) 6 Typhoon has been designed to test the separation of the low-collateral, high-precision Brimstone weapon when it is released.
MBDA Typhoon Integration director Andy Bradford said: “This first firing is a major milestone for both the Brimstone and Typhoon programmes.
“Together Brimstone and Typhoon will provide the Royal Air Force and other Eurofighter nations with a world-beating strike capability to beyond 2040.”
The firing was supported by BAE Systems, the UK Ministry of Defence, MBDA, QinetiQ, Eurofighter and the Eurofighter Partner companies Airbus and Leonardo.
It follows a series of around 40 flight trials conducted earlier this year. Few of these tests were conducted alongside pilots from the RAF’s 41(R) Squadron (Test and Evaluation Squadron) in a Combined Test Team approach.
A total of nine firings will be conducted to expand the launch and range capabilities of the missile.
Brimstone allows the Typhoon pilot to precisely attack fast-moving targets at range, enhancing the aircraft’s already highly potent air-to-surface capabilities.
Earlier this year, the Storm Shadow deep strike air-to-surface weapon and the Meteor ‘beyond visual range’ air-to-air missile successfully completed the flight trials programme.
Operational testing and evaluation of those capabilities are currently ongoing with the RAF ahead of entry into service next year.
Image: The UK’s Instrumented Production Aircraft (IPA) 6 Typhoon has been designed to test the separation of the Brimstone weapon when it is released. Photo: courtesy of BAE Systems.
