Originally called AAAW (Advanced Anti-Armour Weapon), Brimstone was developed to fill requirement SR(A)138 for an advanced anti-tank weapon to replace the BL.755 cluster bomb on RAF ground attack missions. With autonomous, all-weather, day/night capability Brimstone represents a quantum leap in the RAF's anti-armour capability.
Brimstone has been accused of being a copy of the US Hellfire, but apart from the basic configuration, Brimstone is a new design. Brimstone is intended for launch from all levels and at all speeds, particularly high-speed aircraft. It is a fire-and-forget weapon, using a millimetre wave seeker operating in the 94GHz frequency.
Photograph: BAE Systems
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