A $56.4 million U.K. contract with MBDA in Britain will guarantee the supply of the Brimstone missile stockpile for the next five years, the Ministry of Defense said.
The air-to-ground missiles provide capability for pilots who can engage moving and static targets both day and night with a small warhead and precision guidance, using Brimstone significantly reduces the risk of unintended damage, the ministry said.
The missiles are made and assembled in the United Kingdom by MBDA, which is held by BAE Systems, 37.5 percent, European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. (EADS), 37.5 percent and Finmeccanica, 25 percent.
The missiles are carried by RAF Tornados and have been extensively used on operations in Afghanistan.
The contract was revealed at the Dubai Air Show by Minister for Defense equipment, Support and Technology Phillip Dunne.
“Brimstone missiles provide unrivaled precision capability and are key to protecting our forces in Afghanistan,” he said.
The Head of Engineering in the Weapons Operating Center of MoD’s Defense Equipment and Support Organization, Air Commodore Mike Quigley said, “Brimstone plays a vital part in our modern and sophisticated arsenal of precision strike weapons and securing this contract means a consistent delivery of weapons to the RAF as and when they are needed.”
MoD plans to integrated Brimstone onto the RAF’s Typohoon aircraft as well as the future Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters.