Typhoon's Brimstone 2 integration study contract awarded to BAE

Eurofighter Typhoon Flight tests with Taurus KEPD 350 missile BAE Systems have been awarded an initial study contract, valued at £5 milli...

Eurofighter Typhoon Flight tests with Taurus KEPD 350 missile

BAE Systems have been awarded an initial study contract, valued at £5 million by the UK Ministry of Defence to evaluate the integration of the MBDA Brimstone 2 air-to-ground precision missile with the RAF Eurofighter Typhoon fighter.

BAE is currently conducting aerodynamic tests using wind tunnel at its Warton site in Lancashire to assess the aerodynamic properties of missile integration. The assessment phase will conclude with flight trials on Typhoon in 2014.

Brimstone integration with RAF Typhoons is targeted by 2018. MBDA have earlier shown artwork of a four-missile launcher on a single Typhoon weapon station.

Brimstone dual-mode variant is currently operational with RAF Tornado GR4 fighter, and was extensively employed in Afghanistan and Libya.

Each launch system comprise three missile on three rails, allowing a numbers of missiles to be carried. Typhoon could carry up to four launch systems on four individual pylons, carrying a maximum of 12 missiles.

Brimstone 2 will enhance Typhoon's swing-role capability, against high speed maneuvering targets over land and sea as a low collateral, close air support weapon.

The fire and forget Brimstone 2 has a 60+ km range against ground targets and weighs 48.5 kg.