Brimstone 2: Ukraine’s stealth weapon against Russian tanks
One of the most effective anti-tank measures for Ukraine is the Brimstone missile family provided by the United Kingdom. They are launched from launchers mounted on ordinary trucks. Here, we present the performance of this solution.
Brimstone missiles first appeared in Ukraine in May 2022, and they can effortlessly destroy even the best Russian T-90M tanks.
The Ukrainians use specially modified trucks as Brimstone missile launchers, carrying three ready-to-use missiles simultaneously. This configuration is similar to the test launcher of the naval version of the Sea Spear system, showcased in one of the tests published by MBDA.
Brimstone 2 - Ukraine's best anti-tank weapon
Ukraine has received both the first-generation Brimstone missiles, produced since 1996, and the second-generation variant, produced since 2016. The first version was essentially an AGM-114 Hellfire missile adapted for launching from aircraft, allowing for targeting tanks at a range of up to 12 miles with a warhead capable of penetrating the equivalent of 28 inches of armored steel.
The Brimstone 2 missile doubles the range and includes a new tandem (dual) shaped charge warhead and an entirely new guidance system. The performance of the new warhead remains unknown, but it has been reported that the armor of the latest Russian T-90M tanks or T-80BWM tanks does not pose an issue for it.
The precise delivery of the warhead is ensured by a dual guidance system further supported by a tandem of GPS and INS navigation. Like its predecessor, Brimstone 2 features a laser reflection-guided warhead, which allows for maintaining control over the missile's flight until impact or targeting low radar signature combatants.
Brimstone 2 - it will find and identify the target on its own
The addition of a radar head in the missile, combined with onboard electronics, allows it to search for and identify targets independently. Thanks to this technology, Brimstone 2 functions as a "fire-and-forget" anti-tank missile, capable of distinguishing civilian vehicles from tanks or other armored vehicles. The radar is particularly effective against fast-moving targets.
It is also possible to program the flight so that the missile ignores targets over a certain segment of the flight, such as friendly tanks, and searches for objects only beyond this area. This provides great flexibility and effectiveness even when there is incomplete data on the location of the opponent's armored forces. It's worth noting that Poland will also use these missiles as part of the Ottokar Brzoza program, as emphasized by Łukasz Michalik.
