MBDA is positioning its Surface-Launched Brimstone (SLB) missile as a key solution for the British Army’s Light Forces Overwatch requirement.
This capability was demonstrated during the DVD 2024 event, where MBDA showcased its Wolfram project — integrating the Brimstone missile onto a Supacat HMT platform.
The Wolfram project focuses on meeting the British Army’s need for a long-range anti-armour system, designed to provide critical support to battle groups. The system promises enhanced battlefield capabilities with its rapid firepower and increased flexibility.
Speaking about the Surface-Launched Brimstone system, Paul from MBDA highlighted, “The Surface Launched Brimstone will provide the army with a capability for defeating armour that they haven’t had for the last decade. It will provide them with flexibility, increasing lethality and survivability through mobility on its Supacat platform.”
Paul also discussed the collaborative effort between MBDA and the Army, explaining, “The Brimstone synthetic environment we brought here today will show the British Army how the weapon system can be operated so that they can dictate to us how it could be employed in the battle space. There is mutual learning to be done. We’re here to support them, and they’re here to support us.”
The Brimstone system is designed to be versatile, capable of engaging targets while on the move, performing both direct and indirect fire, and delivering multiple rounds to hit a target simultaneously.
With these capabilities, MBDA is positioning the Brimstone system as a strong contender for the British Army’s Light Forces Overwatch requirement, ensuring the Army is equipped for the challenges of future conflicts.
At @dvd_event, we’re showcasing our new synthetic environment with the surface launched #Brimstone weapon system at the @BritishArmy stand. 🚀
🎙️Hear Paul discuss how Light Forces Overwatch provides a counter mass solution, demonstrating the versatility of the Brimstone… pic.twitter.com/gil2Twlqgb
— MBDA UK (@MBDA_UK) September 19, 2024
Odd title.
This is the obvious choice for MCCO, but with the addition of heavier Ajax or Boxer launch options would become a more rounded system that works better with any of our mobile formations.
Agree about the headline. How many decades since the original Brimstones started as a UK Hellfire variant? Not this century.
Unfortunately Boxers would come with a more rounded price tag as well as a more rounded performance. Especially if you have a load of the Supacats lying around after a cancelled programme.
Another interesting capability for mounting on the supacat HMT common base platform..it’s a shame budgets are what they are because this along with the 1220mm mortar would make a real difference around firepower for light cavalry regiments and the three core brigade combat teams in first division.
I know that it’s a mis-type, but I still would like to see the unveiling of Babcock’s new 1220 mm mortar- for when there isn’t an airlifter to deliver a daisy cutter!
You mean you’ve never seen the 1220mortar in action….😂🤣😵💫
I’m just hoping it’s a breech loader, because hoisting one to drop it down the barrel would require mortarmen built like Eddie Hall…
Less Eddie Hall and more Warhound Titan from 40K.
You don’t push the shell into the breech, you drop the barrel around the shell!
Ah, don’t tell me I’ve written that somewhere?
Hi, George
I wouldn’t usually complain but, why are so many duplicate articles appearing here at the moment? They often seem to be one written by you and one by Lisa, based on the same press release.
Is it deliberate or just a coordination problem?
It is so irritating. Are they ever actually going to buy something or will this kit end up like every UAV program we get involved in, looking but not actually buying and getting into service.
Brimstone with the Light Cav Regs on Supacat, 120mm Mortar with the infantry. Seems such a no brainer.
CGS talks big of doubling them tripling lethality. That cannot be just in ISTAR and SA, increase firepower! Until then, it is yet more hot air.
Of course, there is the issue that should Opfor have effective drones, it will be hot air around the crew of the supercat with unwelcome shrapnel added to the mix.
I understand the idea, just disagree with supercat as a platform.
Evening mate.
It gets to the point that drones are becoming so effective a vehicle under armour is also vulnerable.
Cannot make the jump to all autonomous robotic vehicles yet so in the meantime, like in all forms of warfare, a counter will have to develop.
So, do you want taxpayer money put into, ostensibly, RRA defensive capability or Strike offensive?
It’s a huge problem, financially.
It is. There’s no choice but both. The Army has ongoing CUAS programs.
Its like the Ch3, an offensive asset and spend money so all have Trophy, a DAS? Yes, a must.
There’s the nubs. No money.
This DefRev is going to be slated, but, I’d suggest, steady as she goes and cut back on new systems.
Painful, very painful, moment, coming up for Defence.
Isn’t the title meant to be Brimstone, not hellfire. Always great to have something like this. But surely they can fit more on? The hardpoint mockup can atleast take three in a small footprint.
The photo shows a launcher unit for 8 missiles. STRIKER had 5 Swingfire on the roof and 5 reloads inside the wagon.
I still have my FV102 Striker somewhere, i think it was Matchbox build. It would even fire matches :)))
I know it has 8, but there has been mock-ups that have a few more on a similar footprint. I guess you don’t want to lose too many if it gets hit.
I’ll back you up there on the original title, Coll, and see it’s since been changed. It sure confused me too.
I’m not clear – is the idea that the rear modules would be transferable (maybe not like Boxer but possible). So could this also transfer onto the armoured cab version?
It looks like that. They have both called overwatch, so I can only imagine they are.
There seem to be a lot of systems in the pipeline, badly needed in most cases, but current government noises seem to suggest that, instead of increasing defence spending, defence spending is going to suffer cuts. How many of these projects are liable to survive?
I think there “might” be a distinction in messaging here coming from the treasury (and MOD). And it’s getting confused in public. MOD and the TLBs have been asked to dramatically cut spending IN YEAR to close the black hole. There is less mood music around longer term recapitalisation and reduction. SDR though will seek to priories spending on capability that the review seems critical to the future fight. Read into that what you want. One interesting piece of news from the inside this week. Levine funding ceases at the end of September and all funding delegation to the TLBs… Read more »
*prioritise
I have not heard the term ‘Levine funding’ before so please can you explain? If TLB funding is withdrawn back to the Centre then there will no longer be TLBs. That would be crazy.
Levine reform was the creation of the TLBs with delegated responsibility for funding. I think the aim by withdrawing the delegation is to ensure joined up thinking on future capability.
There seemed to be a lot of surprise where I was sat last week….
Not sure how much there was a feeling that the TLBs have so rarely balanced their books and the equipment programme is so dire that they might as well centralise it anyway.
You’re writing in English, speaking Dutch.
Can you broaden out Levine and TLBs, please?
Lord Levine led review in 2010 that led to delegation of budgets to the single services, Defence Equipment and Support, and Defence Infrastructure Organisation (abd Strategic Command?) – which became Top Level Budgets.
Thanks BobA
Depends on how good a case can be made for each one. Being able to actually define what the armed forces are for and expected to do.
A good military case may not be a good political case and I doubt it would ever be considered a good financial case – financially, they are all a matter of spending money on something that, in a sane world society, wouldn’t be needed.
Bit of a cheeky title there George, trying to make us think that the British Army had punted on the domestic option in favour of Hellfire/JAGM again?!
Looks like a good capability, especially if the launch box is the same as containerised/Boxer/ tracked versions. I don’t expect the whole surrounding module would necessarily be drag and drop, but you’d still get commonality of spares, tools, potentially sighting/cuing systems etc.
I believe these or similar have already seen use in Ukraine, so a proven platform would be highly useful.
GL Brimstone? They’ve certainly launched normal (old model 1 or 2) Brimstone from ad-hoc launch rails on the back of a mobile sandwich van. I believe “proper” GL Brimstone has a couple of refinements, but could be wrong.
There’s been surprisingly little reported on it to be honest, I’ve seen a few photos of the launch rig, and I think maybe 2 videos of the outcome of the strikes filmed by drones at quite some distance. I’m not sure whether that’s due to limited opportunity, effectiveness, or some other reason.
It’s not hellfire then is it.
I’ll never forget that video of a spread of Brimstones from a Tornado taking out an entire armoured column in Libya I think. Awesome.
Whatever launch vehicle is chosen, GL Brimstone would be a big boost in firepower for light units. Whether it makes sense to lose Boxers from their other roles or choose a supacat platform, I’m not sure. MBDA have data sheets for both options.
In the past then LRATGM was launched from CVR(T) ie STRIKER. So if there was any logic pertaining, the Brimstone would be launched by its successor, a turretless AJAX variant.
No reason though why it could not however be mounted on any other platform.
Except crews extreme vulnerability to counter fire?
Brimstone ARES already demo’d by GD Graham👍
Brimstone is in service, so go for it. Why select another missile when you can have commonality, reduced logistics and quantity price reductions?
Lots of warm words on British Army Requirements but no orders on any thing. 3 or 4 years of talking with nothing to show for it in regard to just about every thing, Light gun replacement, AS90 replacement, mobile mortar anti drone more Shorad etc etc. Warrior replacement it goes on with no orders.
Good, I hope it gets procured.
I said a few times that I think the British Army needs Brimstone or something like it to provide quick reaction stand off precision fires.
Cheers CR