BAE Systems has for the first time installed MBDA Brimstone air-to-surface missiles beneath the wing of a Eurofighter, providing a glimpse of the Typhoon’s future multirole fit for the UK Royal Air Force.
Six Brimstone 2 training rounds were fitted to a single-seat Typhoon at BAE’s Warton site in Lancashire, using a pair of three-missile launchers. The trial marked the conclusion of a £5 million ($7.8 million) feasibility study awarded to BAE earlier this year linked to the precision strike weapon.
“The aircraft was also fitted with two [Raytheon Systems] Paveway IV precision-guided bombs, showing the baseline Phase 3 enhancements air-to-surface configuration,” says BAE. “The trials are helping to pave the way for Brimstone 2 integration for the Royal Air Force by 2018."
BAE Systems
The RAF is now taking delivery of Typhoons in the P1EB operating configuration, which enables the type to deploy the 226kg (500lb)-class Paveway IV.
Enhancing the ground-attack capabilities of the Typhoon is a key requirement for the UK, as it advances towards the retirement of its last Panavia Tornado GR4 strike aircraft in 2019. In addition to gaining the Brimstone 2 and Paveway IV, it will also be able to deploy MBDA’s Storm Shadow cruise missile.
Meanwhile, January will see a test of the RAF’s ability to conduct swing-role operations with the Typhoon, with its Lossiemouth-based 1 Sqn to participate in a Red Flag multinational exercise at Nellis AFB, Nevada. The service will also deploy a Boeing E-3D Sentry airborne warning and control system aircraft from its 8 Sqn and a 5 Sqn-operated Sentinel R1 battlefield reconnaissance aircraft – a special mission derivative of the Bombardier Global Express – to the USA for the activity.
Source: Flight International
