Typhoon successfully trials Brimstone missile

Air March 20, 2017

The RAF’s Eurofighter Typhoon has successfully taken part in further flight trials with the MBDA Brimstone air-to-surface weapon at BAE Systems’ site in Warton, Lancashire.

The tests are part of continuing development work on the Phase 3 Enhancement (P3E) package for Typhoon, which will also deliver further sensor and mission system upgrades as part of Project CENTURION.

The programme seeks to provide a smooth transition of Tornado capabilities on to Typhoon for the Royal Air Force by the end of 2018.

The trials were carried out using the UK Typhoon Instrumented Production Aircraft (IPA) 6 as of work to gain air data on the weapon, measure environmental effects and expand the carriage envelope. Firing trials will take place later this year.

The flight trials were partly carried out through a Combined Testing Team (CTT) approach with pilots from the Royal Air Force’s 41(R) Squadron (the RAF’s Test and Evaluation Squadron).

James McLaughlin, BAE Systems’ Contract Delivery Manager for Typhoon Phase 3 Enhancements, said: “This continues to be an incredibly productive time for Typhoon development and the benefits of the Combined Testing Team approach are clearly visible.

“The dedicated work of our teams and partner companies has ensured we have been able to conduct a large number of flight trials in a short space of time, involve the Royal Air Force within the process and reach an important milestone on the Brimstone integration programme.”

The flight trials programme for Brimstone runs alongside ongoing Typhoon development programmes with the Meteor and Storm Shadow weapons, which form part of the aircraft’s Phase 2 Enhancement (P2E) package due to be delivered into service in 2018.

If you would like to join our community and read more articles like this then please click here

BAE Systems Brimstone MBDA RAF