In separate Written Answers, Minister for Defence Procurement Maria Eagle has provided important updates on key weapons projects for the British Armed Forces.

BRIMSTONE 3

BRIMSTONE 3 comes from what was initially known as the BRIMSTONE Capability Sustainment Programme, a £400 million programme. Aim of the project, launched all the way back in 2017, was to take the weapon configuration that had emerged by adding a semi-active laser seeker to the originally purely radar-guided missile (Dual Mode) and then by further developing the system (BRIMSTONE 2) and transition it towards new production with full obsolescence removal and the embodiment of further improvements.

BRIMSTONE 3A thus retains most key components from the previous BRIMSTONE 2, including the modular airframe, the MBDA-developed enhanced dual mode (94 Ghz Millimetric Wave (mmW) radio frequency (RF)/ semi-active laser (SAL) seeker, the insensitive munition (IM)-compliant VULCAN rocket motor sourced from Roxel, and the IM-compliant multi-effects warhead developed by MBDA subsidiary TDW in Germany.

Among the changes it introduces, the ones publicly disclosed include a next-generation microelectromechanical system (MEMS)-based tactical inertial measurement unit (IMU) developed by Atlantic Inertial Systems (AIS) and a new enhanced autopilot for improved precision at range. An improved battery is also embodied, extending engagement duration by 30%, in turn expanding the maximum range by more than 20%. The engagement range for BRIMSTONE remains, however, classified.

In 2021, the scope of the project was expanded with a £197 million Advanced Software package order which, at its core, gives the BRIMSTONE 3B (or simply “3”) the whole range of engagement tactics and modes, at all altitudes, developed over time, enabling a single stock of missiles to serve the needs of the Air Force (fast jets, PROTECTOR, high altitude launches…) and expected needs of the Army (helicopter launch, ground launch).

After significant delays, the first safe separation firing from TYPHOON is expected to occur in the summer, prior to the weapons system being fielded on the MQ-9B PROTECTOR in  Quarter 4 2025 and on TYPHOON in Quarter 4 2026.

Integration of BRIMSTONE 3 on the AH-64E APACHE of the British Army was considered but the Army eventually decided to adopt the US JAGM, even after Boeing performed a demonstration firing. Unless the decision is reversed in the incoming Strategic Defence Review / Industrial Strategy, no integration will be completed.

The Army is expected to adopt BRIMSTONE 3, ground launched, for its Project WOLFRAM / Mounted Close Combat Overwatch needs.

SPEAR 3

Selective Precision Effect At Range, Capability 3 (SPEAR 3 or, increasingly commonly, just SPEAR) is intended to be the primary ground-strike weapon for the British F-35Bs. Visually and conceptually very similar to the American Small Diameter Bomb 2 (GBU-53/B STORMBREAKER), it is a flexible stand-off weapon with a combined millimetric radar and semi active laser seeker and a warhead that makes it suitable for hitting a wide range of relocatable or even moving targets, including main battle tanks. The main attribute that sets SPEAR apart from the GBU-53/B is the fact that it is powered by a TJ-150 turbojet engine, unlike SDB 2 which is a purely gliding weapon.

Development of SPEAR started in March 2016 when the UK MOD committed £411 million (US$536 million) to a 4-year SPEAR Cap 3 Development Phase with MBDA UK.

In late 2020, at the end of that phase, the MOD signed a GBP550 million contract for a “7-year” Demonstration and Manufacture phase. At the time, it was hoped that guided firings would begin within 18 months, but the programme has progresses considerably more slowly and the first guided firing only occurred in October 2024, from a BAE Systems-operated TYPHOON at the Vidsel test range in Sweden.

Further guided firing trials are “on track” for the summer again at Vidsel, and the Minister adds that hardware has been delivered by MBDA to Lockheed Martin in the US to support F-35B integration activity including on-aircraft flights also planned for this summer.

SEA VENOM

The MBDA SEA VENOM, a joint project between UK and France, is the “Heavy” weapon solution within the Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon (FASGW) project of the Royal Navy to arm the AW-159 WILDCAT helicopter. The Light solution is the Thales Light Multirole Missile (LMM) MARTLET.

After the 1st successful guided firing from WILDCAT which took place at the Aberporth range in Wales in October 2024, the program has continued and Initial Operating Capability is on schedule to be declared by June. The Minister notes that this milestone is “aligned to the Carrier Strike Group 25 deployment” (Operation HIGHMAST) which possibly implies WILDCAT helicopters deployed with HMS PRINCE OF WALES’ group will perform firings. This would repeat what had happened in 2021 with MARTLET firings during HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH’s own cruise.

Full Operating Capability is expected by 2029 when the programme will have completed delivery and its team will disband (milestone planned for 21 December 2029).

Follow us on Telegram, Facebook and X.