<type>Amend</type>
<summary>#3035 - Brimstone 2 and #2251 - Brimstone Dual-Mode - Add LST sensor in addition to MMw radar</summary>
<detail>
#3035 - Brimstone 2
and
#2251 - Brimstone Dual-Mode -
ADD SENSOR
1x Laser Spot Tracker 15 nm LST, Laser Spot Tracker Surface Search, Ground Search (Fixed), Ground Search (Mobile), Heading Info
In addition to the current sensor and guidance:
Guidance Type: Inertial (INS) mid-course plus Active Radar Homing (ARH) terminal guidance
SENSORS
1x Active Radar Seeker 5 nm Weapon Seeker, Active Radar Early 2000s Technology, Surface Search, Ground Search (Fixed), Ground Search (Mobile), Range Information, Speed Information, Heading Info
Operating bands (search & track): M
Checking Brimstone DM and Brimstone 2 in the DB3k as a result of the prior requests and they are missing the crucial dual mode,
Brimstone 2 essentially is the evolved production variant of the Brimstone DMS (Dual Mode Seeker) research programme which was working toward creating the Brimstone 2, DMS was pushed into early use due to an urgent operational requirement for Afghanistan and the intervention in Libya.
Brimstone DMS had a dual SALH and MM wave radar sensor to permit use against a much wider set of targets and tighter rules of engagement for pinpoint targets.
Brimstone 2 evovled from this technology so there would be no need for a Brimstone 2 "Dual Mode" as Brimstone 2 has a dual mode seeker by default.
In its current DB3K entity the Brimstone DM and Brimstone 2 have just MM wave radar seeker, ideally it should emulate the JAGM entry #3529 which has both radar and a Laser spot tracker?
From the MBDA Brimstone* product brochure:
https://www.mbda-systems.com/?action=fo ... t_id=18765
"The system can be operated in three modes, each providing
flexibility and proven high confidence in mission success:
Mode 1: Semi-Active Laser (SAL) guidance, to engage static
targets with limited or no radar cross section (RCS)
Mode 2: Both SAL and Millimetric Wave radar guidance for fast
moving targets in cluttered environments
Mode 3: Fire-and-forget simultaneous target engagement" (i.e radar only)
*interestingly it appears MBDA dont differentiate Brimstone 2 from the earlier version presumably because only Brimstone 2 is in production.
</detail>
<evidence>
http://www.mbda-systems.com/mbda/site/r ... E_416.html
</evidence>
Brimstone 2 is an important weapon in the UK inventory which would benefit from the amendment,
and Brimstone Dual Mode (DMS) is most likely not still in service having been superseded by Brimstone 2.
I doubt whether MBDA/RAF/MoD would be supporting both types from a cost/logistics perspective?
#3589 - Brimstone 2 Dual-Mode is only used in two loadouts #27245 and #27246 for the:
#4724 - Protector MALE UCAV [MQ-9B] (United Kingdom - 2019) so relatively "easy" to remove and still maintain backward compatibility.
Thanks
K
