MBDA has received a contract from Germany to manufacture and supply Brimstone 3 precision strike missiles for the Bundeswehr’s Typhoon combat aircraft.
MBDA’s Schrobenhausen site will be used for this purpose, and a final assembly line and a service centre for Brimstone will be set up there.
Eric Béranger, Chief Executive Officer of MBDA said:
“The procurement of Brimstone 3 by Germany is a decisive contribution to the harmonisation of armaments in Europe and the Bundeswehr’s ammunition stockpile. The new production line is the first of its kind outside the UK and demonstrates the value of the MBDA cooperation model in ensuring the sovereign supply of critical European defence capabilities.”
Brimstone 3, say MBDA, is a “tactical precision strike missile characterised by very high levels of combat-proven accuracy, effectiveness and reliability. Brimstone 3 enables the forces to hit stationary and fast-moving targets with pinpoint accuracy in all weathers.”
Brimstone is also being integrated onto unmanned aerial vehicles such as the Eurodrone and MQ-9B and is a suitable armament option for land vehicles, helicopters and heavy remote carriers.
Should have been picked for UK Apaches then? Potentially another short sighted decision.
Would have been nice true but it’s main benefits over Hellfire are best exploited by fast jets I think, so if costs are to be considered and how that relates also to mods on Apaches themselves I can understand why it wasn’t. Problem we have when Big Brother US are so in control of matters and US weapons even where inferior take precedence forcing difficult decisions on its foreign customers and why we need to cooperate strongly elsewhere to counter. Great that the Germans have accepted the benefits though some on here might complained based on past experience as to… Read more »
With regards to why the jgam was chosen over brimstone, I’ve seen very credible reporting that mod officials believe that the jgam was more capable in most of the situations that the Apache would find itself and that’s why they went with it. As you stated, it appears the brimstone excels when fired from fast jets compared to helicopters.
And Brimstone is already Typhoon integrated and proven with an upgrade pathway? So a low risk buy.
Another win for UK missile IP.
Makes me very happy.
Apaches are worthlessness fpv drones can take them out
Good to see Brimstone finally making progress in Europe / NATO. It is a excellent battle proven weapon.
Italy and South Korea are also reportedly interested in this weapon so hopefully more countries to join Saudi on the list of future users.
Hopefully, this order might highlight to LM that they need to get the Block IV software sorted…
Cheers CR
“Hopefully, this order might highlight to LM that they need to get the Block IV software sorted…”. Surely you jest, my good sir? Everyone knows that Block IV serves as the LM Full Employment Act thru the 2030’s! 😉
Scarily true. Plus I doubt that a US company, through whatever nefarious pressures internal/external would be overly worked up about offering a viable competitor on its aircraft to US alternatives. It’s political Masters would be like Rottweilers sadly.
You rumbled me, sir! Although there was a tiny pinch of hope..!
Cheers CR
I would hope that orders like this and increased production might through mass reduce its overall costs so that its advantages and flexibility can out way its cost of acquisition. That could transform its sales success to reach the potential it deserves and support the chances of follow up programmes like Spear 3.
I agree Spyinthesky,
Brimstone / SPEAR fire and forget / auto target identification and targeting capability as well as the fact that it can be reprogrammed makes it a very useful weapon across all domains. Beats me why it hasn’t sold more widely already.
Cheers CR
Same reason as forever. Often items like the Alison vs RR Merlin in P51 rear their ugly head until one is proven so superior its unavoidable. Canberra is the last plane I can think of exported in numbers!
True enough, mate.
Although, I would also say the Hunter and Harrier did pretty well… Well the latter did pretty well for a niche machine 🙂
Cheers CR
Anybody see this…https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/07/u-s-navy-confirms-sm-6-air-launched-configuration-is-operationally-deployed/
Good, we need another production run of Typhoons to flesh out every users numbers. We cannot and must not depend on the US. JSF has proved that.