sorry for the absence, im going trough a lot of stuff, i'll come back soon!
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MBDA Brimstone 🇪🇺🇬🇧
-Photos showing it in Ukrainian service
-RAF Harrier equipped with Brimstone missiles
-Photos showing it in Ukrainian service
-RAF Harrier equipped with Brimstone missiles
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Compass Call
MBDA Brimstone 🇪🇺🇬🇧 -Photos showing it in Ukrainian service -RAF Harrier equipped with Brimstone missiles
Here is the first post in a series that will focus on MBDA, the largest European missile manufacturer. Through this series, we will examine the capabilities the European Union has achieved in terms of the indigenous production of various types of missiles (while keeping in mind that MBDA is not the only producer). One of the best products of the European consortium MBDA is the Brimstone, the most modern anti-tank system designed for airborne platforms.
The fruit of a British project that began in 1995 and concluded in 1999, it aimed to develop advanced anti-tank capabilities for the RAF. At the time, the British air force relied almost exclusively on the well-known BL.775 anti-tank cluster bombs, which were expensive for striking single targets and, above all, dangerous to friendly troops. Thus, in the 1980s, an IR-guided anti-tank version of the ASRAAM air-to-air missile was developed, designated AST1227. This was discarded due to concerns regarding countermeasures that the enemy could adopt to easily elude an infrared-guided missile. Countless solutions were attempted—proposals involving autonomous-guided HEAT submunition dispensers, unpropelled anti-tank weapons, and mini-cruise missiles—but none met all the requirements. The Brimstone won the contract shortly thereafter, in 1996. The British MoD’s focus was an affordable system that could be carried in large numbers, while guaranteeing a range sufficient to prevent at least MANPADS and anti-aircraft guns from engaging the launch vehicle.
The Brimstone was a 50kg missile featuring an excellent characteristic: a guidance system based not on a heat seeker, but rather on a millimeter-wave radar. Operating at EHF (Extremely High Frequency) with a wavelength of approximately 10-1mm, it allowed the target to be detected with absolute clarity thanks to such a small wavelength. The drawback was that waves this short are easily absorbed by the atmosphere, foliage, humid air, and rain, but this was compensated for by an incredible accuracy that minimized collateral damage. The engineering miracle lay in fitting such a small antenna inside a missile with a diameter of just 18cm, successfully achieving success rates of over 98% in operational contexts. Each launch pod carries three Brimstones, meaning an Eurofighter can operate with 18 Brimstones while retaining space for fuel tanks and short-range defense. The range is 20km when launched from an aircraft or UAV and about 12km when launched from a helicopter.
However, with the Brimstone 2, which entered service in 2015, the range reached an impressive 60km when launched from an aircraft and 40km from a helicopter—an operational range unique in the world for an anti-tank weapon. The version 2 stands out due to the inclusion of a laser guidance system, which allows an operator, a drone, or another aircraft to designate a target with a laser so that the missile hits it by following the reflection. In this way, the range is extended since there is no need to rely solely on the radar, which, as mentioned, has a limited range.
The Brimstone is completely fire-and-forget. Designed to be launched en masse, it hits lines of targets in a staggered manner without causing overkill. Furthermore, it can autonomously search for targets within an area designated by the human operator. Its offensive potential comes from a 6.4kg tandem shaped-charge warhead, which can easily penetrate any MBT (Main Battle Tank) in the world.
In 2019, MBDA presented the Brimstone 3, featuring a completely new digital architecture, advanced surface-to-surface capabilities, and an increased range. Approximately 3,200 units have been ordered by the German Air Force. Hundreds of Brimstones have been used in Afghanistan, Libya, and Iraq by the RAF, and hundreds have been supplied to Ukraine, adapted for launch from land and naval platforms.
The fruit of a British project that began in 1995 and concluded in 1999, it aimed to develop advanced anti-tank capabilities for the RAF. At the time, the British air force relied almost exclusively on the well-known BL.775 anti-tank cluster bombs, which were expensive for striking single targets and, above all, dangerous to friendly troops. Thus, in the 1980s, an IR-guided anti-tank version of the ASRAAM air-to-air missile was developed, designated AST1227. This was discarded due to concerns regarding countermeasures that the enemy could adopt to easily elude an infrared-guided missile. Countless solutions were attempted—proposals involving autonomous-guided HEAT submunition dispensers, unpropelled anti-tank weapons, and mini-cruise missiles—but none met all the requirements. The Brimstone won the contract shortly thereafter, in 1996. The British MoD’s focus was an affordable system that could be carried in large numbers, while guaranteeing a range sufficient to prevent at least MANPADS and anti-aircraft guns from engaging the launch vehicle.
The Brimstone was a 50kg missile featuring an excellent characteristic: a guidance system based not on a heat seeker, but rather on a millimeter-wave radar. Operating at EHF (Extremely High Frequency) with a wavelength of approximately 10-1mm, it allowed the target to be detected with absolute clarity thanks to such a small wavelength. The drawback was that waves this short are easily absorbed by the atmosphere, foliage, humid air, and rain, but this was compensated for by an incredible accuracy that minimized collateral damage. The engineering miracle lay in fitting such a small antenna inside a missile with a diameter of just 18cm, successfully achieving success rates of over 98% in operational contexts. Each launch pod carries three Brimstones, meaning an Eurofighter can operate with 18 Brimstones while retaining space for fuel tanks and short-range defense. The range is 20km when launched from an aircraft or UAV and about 12km when launched from a helicopter.
However, with the Brimstone 2, which entered service in 2015, the range reached an impressive 60km when launched from an aircraft and 40km from a helicopter—an operational range unique in the world for an anti-tank weapon. The version 2 stands out due to the inclusion of a laser guidance system, which allows an operator, a drone, or another aircraft to designate a target with a laser so that the missile hits it by following the reflection. In this way, the range is extended since there is no need to rely solely on the radar, which, as mentioned, has a limited range.
The Brimstone is completely fire-and-forget. Designed to be launched en masse, it hits lines of targets in a staggered manner without causing overkill. Furthermore, it can autonomously search for targets within an area designated by the human operator. Its offensive potential comes from a 6.4kg tandem shaped-charge warhead, which can easily penetrate any MBT (Main Battle Tank) in the world.
In 2019, MBDA presented the Brimstone 3, featuring a completely new digital architecture, advanced surface-to-surface capabilities, and an increased range. Approximately 3,200 units have been ordered by the German Air Force. Hundreds of Brimstones have been used in Afghanistan, Libya, and Iraq by the RAF, and hundreds have been supplied to Ukraine, adapted for launch from land and naval platforms.
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Compass Call
MBDA Brimstone 🇪🇺🇬🇧 -Photos showing it in Ukrainian service -RAF Harrier equipped with Brimstone missiles
To date, the Tornado, Harrier, and Eurofighter aircraft of Germany, the United Kingdom, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia operate the Brimstone, while Ukraine uses them from the ground alongside Poland. Belgium has ordered 16 Brimstones for its drone fleet, and Spain (200) and Turkey are also receiving Brimstone 3 missiles for their Eurofighters.
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🇮🇹 Ecco il primo post di una serie che sarà incentrata su MBDA, il più grande produttore di missili Europeo, così vedremo quali capacità l'Unione ha raggiunto in termini di produzione indigena di missili di vario tipo (pur ricordando che MBDA non è l'unica produttrice).
Uno dei migliori prodotti del consorzio Europeo MBDA è il Brimstone, ovvero lil sistema anticarro più moderno pensato per piattaforme aeree.
Frutto di un progetto Inglese iniziato nel 1995 e terminato nel 1999, volto allo sviluppo di capacità anticarro avanzate per la RAF, all'epoca l'aeronautica Inglese si affidava quasi solamente alle note bombe a grappolo anticarro BL.775 che però erano costose per colpire bersagli singoli, e soprattutto pericolose per le truppe amiche.
Così negli anni '80 fu sviluppata una versione anticarro a guida IR del missile aria-aria ASRAAM, l'AST1227 che fu scartato a causa di preoccupazioni riguardo le contromisure che il nemico avrebbe potuto adottare per eludere facilmente un missile a guida infrarossa, furono tentate innumerevoli soluzioni, proposte che riguardavano dispenser di munizioni HEAT a guida autonoma, armi anticarro non propulse, mini missili da crociera, ma nessuna rispettava tutti i requisiti.
Il Brimstone vinse l'appalto poco più tardi, nel 1996, il focus del MoD Britannico era un sistema economico, che potesse essere trasportato in grandi numeri, ma che garantisse una gittata tale che almeno MANPADS e cannoni antiaerei non potessero ingaggiare il vettore.
Il Brimstone era un missile da 50kg che aveva una caratteristica ottima, ovvero un sistema di guida basato non su un cercatore di calore, ma bensì un radar millimetrico, ovvero con frequenze EHF (Extremely high frequency) ovvero una lunghezza d'onda di circa 10-1mm che permetteva di rilevare con assoluta chiarezza il bersaglio proprio grazie ad una lunghezza d'onda così piccola, il difetto era che onde così vicine vengono assorbite facilmente da atmosfera, foglie, aria umida e pioggia, ma ciò veniva compensato da una precisione incredibile che minimizzava i danni collaterali.
Il miracolo ingegneristico fu inserire un'antenna così piccola in un missile con un diametro di soli 18cm e riuscire ad ottenere tassi di successo del +98% in contesti operativi, ogni pod di lancio trasporta 3 Brimstones, per cui un Eurofighter può operare con 18 Brimstone conservando spazio per serbatoi e difesa a corto raggio.
La gittata è di 20km lanciato da aereo o UAV e circa 12km se lanciato da elicottero, me nel Brimstone 2, entrato in servizio nel 2015, la gittata è di ben 60km lanciato da aereo e 40km da elicottero, un range d'azione unico al mondo per un'arma anticarro.
La versione 2 si distingue per l'inclusione di un sistema di guida laser che permette ad un operatore, ad un drone, o ad un altro aereo di designare con il laser un bersaglio affinché il missile seguendo il riflesso lo colpisca, in tal modo la gittata si estende poiché non è necessario affidarsi al radar che come detto ha un range ridotto.
Il Brimstone è completamente fire and forget, progettato per essere lanciati in massa è colpire in modo scaglionato colonne di bersagli senza compiere Overkill, inoltre può cercare autonomamente bersagli in un'area designata dall'operatore umano, il suo potenziale offensivo è una testata tandem a carica cava da 6,4kg, che può facilmente penetrare qualsiasi MBT al mondo.
Nel 2019 MBDA ha presentato Brimstone 3, con un'architettura digitale completamente nuova, capacità superficie superficie avanzata e portata aumentata, che è stato ordinato in circa 3200 esemplari dall'Aeronautica Tedesca.
Centinaia di Brimstone sono stati utilizzati in Afghanistan, Libia e Iraq dalla RAF, e centinaia sono stati forniti all'Ucraina ma adattati al lancio da piattaforme terrestri e navali.
Ad oggi i Tornado, gli Harrier e gli Eurofighter di Germania, Regno Unito, Qatar e Arabia Saudita operano con il Brimstone, mentre l'Ucraina li adopera da terra insieme alla Polonia, il Belgio ha ordinato 16 Brimstone per la sua flotta di droni, anche Spagna (200) e Turchia stanno ricevendo i Brimstone 3 per i loro Eurofighter.
MBDA AKERON 🇪🇺🇫🇷
Top and Mid: Akeron LP
Bottom: Sea Akeron and Akeron MP
Top and Mid: Akeron LP
Bottom: Sea Akeron and Akeron MP
Compass Call
MBDA AKERON 🇪🇺🇫🇷 Top and Mid: Akeron LP Bottom: Sea Akeron and Akeron MP
Today, we will talk about the Akeron MP and LP, as well as the dedicated naval version, the SEA Akeron.
To begin with, this is the ONLY 5th-generation anti-tank missile in the entire world, and it expands the already broad and highly modern family of anti-tank systems produced by the European Consortium MBDA.
Entering service in 2018 after a design phase that lasted from 2010 to 2015, the missile met the French Armed Forces' requirement for a system to replace the MILAN missiles on production lines, while keeping costs low by utilizing dual-use electronics readily available on the civilian market.
MBDA initially proposed the MILAN-ER, but it was rejected because it lacked lock-on-after-launch capability. The situation became so critical that the French Government purchased American Javelin missiles; the Akeron had to be developed quickly if sovereignty over anti-tank weapons was to be preserved.
MP stands for Moyenne Portée, meaning medium range. The system weighs 26 kg, including the tripod and the firing unit. The latter is fully digitized, ergonomic, and equipped with latest-generation dual infrared sensors, a compass, and daylight optics, making it a valuable tool for reconnaissance.
The missile can penetrate more than one meter of steel and two meters of concrete, as well as ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor), and anti-personnel warhead options are available. With a range of 5 km, it ranks at the higher end of armor penetration compared to similar systems. As mentioned earlier, it features LOAL (Lock-On After Launch) capability. This allows a third-party operator to designate a hidden target, enabling the launcher to fire the missile without a direct line of sight.
The missile then searches for the target while in flight. During this phase, it can be guided by the operator via its camera or use its heat-seeking sensor to strike automatically.
The dual IR seeker operates on two different search bands, allowing it to see through smoke screens and distinguish the heat of a decoy from that of a tank by recognizing how heat is distributed across the target's surface.
The missile is also integrated into the turret of the Jaguar armored vehicle (which you can check out in our previous posts). The SEA Akeron is mounted on Narwhal turrets or specialized lightweight masts, though many examples of simple retrofits have been observed. Furthermore, its guidance system is updated to prevent interference from sea surface reflections.
The Akeron LP is designed to arm French Eurocopter Tiger helicopters. It has a range exceeding 8 km, which extends up to 20 km when launched from an aircraft. The missile is in an advanced testing phase; in fact, just this April, it successfully struck a moving target 6 km off the coast during a flight test, proving its anti-ship capabilities.
In addition to the existing IR/TV guidance, it offers an alternative semi-active laser (SAL) guidance system. Like the MP version, it can execute Top Attack missions, targeting the thinner roof armor of main battle tanks.
More than 3,000 Akeron MP missiles are currently in advanced delivery to the French Armed Forces, with others going to the Egyptian Navy. Belgium follows with 760 missiles ordered, while Cyprus and Luxembourg have also placed orders for small batches. Sweden is currently ordering the missile and collaborating on a national variant.
To begin with, this is the ONLY 5th-generation anti-tank missile in the entire world, and it expands the already broad and highly modern family of anti-tank systems produced by the European Consortium MBDA.
Entering service in 2018 after a design phase that lasted from 2010 to 2015, the missile met the French Armed Forces' requirement for a system to replace the MILAN missiles on production lines, while keeping costs low by utilizing dual-use electronics readily available on the civilian market.
MBDA initially proposed the MILAN-ER, but it was rejected because it lacked lock-on-after-launch capability. The situation became so critical that the French Government purchased American Javelin missiles; the Akeron had to be developed quickly if sovereignty over anti-tank weapons was to be preserved.
MP stands for Moyenne Portée, meaning medium range. The system weighs 26 kg, including the tripod and the firing unit. The latter is fully digitized, ergonomic, and equipped with latest-generation dual infrared sensors, a compass, and daylight optics, making it a valuable tool for reconnaissance.
The missile can penetrate more than one meter of steel and two meters of concrete, as well as ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor), and anti-personnel warhead options are available. With a range of 5 km, it ranks at the higher end of armor penetration compared to similar systems. As mentioned earlier, it features LOAL (Lock-On After Launch) capability. This allows a third-party operator to designate a hidden target, enabling the launcher to fire the missile without a direct line of sight.
The missile then searches for the target while in flight. During this phase, it can be guided by the operator via its camera or use its heat-seeking sensor to strike automatically.
The dual IR seeker operates on two different search bands, allowing it to see through smoke screens and distinguish the heat of a decoy from that of a tank by recognizing how heat is distributed across the target's surface.
The missile is also integrated into the turret of the Jaguar armored vehicle (which you can check out in our previous posts). The SEA Akeron is mounted on Narwhal turrets or specialized lightweight masts, though many examples of simple retrofits have been observed. Furthermore, its guidance system is updated to prevent interference from sea surface reflections.
The Akeron LP is designed to arm French Eurocopter Tiger helicopters. It has a range exceeding 8 km, which extends up to 20 km when launched from an aircraft. The missile is in an advanced testing phase; in fact, just this April, it successfully struck a moving target 6 km off the coast during a flight test, proving its anti-ship capabilities.
In addition to the existing IR/TV guidance, it offers an alternative semi-active laser (SAL) guidance system. Like the MP version, it can execute Top Attack missions, targeting the thinner roof armor of main battle tanks.
More than 3,000 Akeron MP missiles are currently in advanced delivery to the French Armed Forces, with others going to the Egyptian Navy. Belgium follows with 760 missiles ordered, while Cyprus and Luxembourg have also placed orders for small batches. Sweden is currently ordering the missile and collaborating on a national variant.
🇮🇹Quest'oggi parleremo di Akeron MP ed LP, nonché della versione marina dedicata SEA Akeron.
Iniziamo col dire che si tratta dell'UNICO missile anticarro di 5° generazione in tutto il mondo, e va ad integrare la già ampia e modernissima famiglia di sistemi anticarro del Consorzio Europeo MBDA.
Entrato in servizio nel 2018 dopo una progettazione durata dal 2010 al 2015, il missile rispose al requisito delle forze armate Francesi di un sistema che sostituisse sulle linee produttive i missili MILAN e che avesse costi mantenuti utilizzando elettronica dual use reperibile sul mercato civile.
MBDA propose il MILAN-ER ma fu rifiutato poiché non poteva agganciare un bersaglio dopo il lancio, la situazione era così grave che il Governo Francese acquistò i Javelin Statunitensi, l'Akeron doveva nascere a breve se si voleva preservare la sovranità sulle armi anticarro.
MP significa Moyenne Portée ovvero a medio raggio, il sistema pesa 15kg insieme a treppiede e unità di mira, quest'ultima è completamente digitalizzata, ergonomica e munita di sensori infrarossi dual di ultimissima generazione, bussola, e ottica diurna, per cui si tratta di uno strumento prezioso per la ricognizione.
Il missile può penetrare più di un metro di acciaio e 2 metri di calcestruzzo, corazze ERA ed esistono opzioni anti-personale, la gittata è di 5km, per cui si colloca nella fascia di penetrazione alta dei sistemi comparabili, come detto prima è munito della capacità LOAL (Lock on after launch), ciò permette ad un operatore terzo di designare un bersaglio nascosto e al lanciatore di lanciare il missile senza una linea di vista aperta, e questo dunque cerca il bersaglio già in volo, durante questa fase il missile può essere guidato dall'operatore tramite la telecamera oppure utilizzare il sensore a ricerca di calore per colpire in automatico.
Il cercatore IR dual ha due bande diverse di ricerca che permettono di vedere attraverso i fumogeni e di distinguere il calore di un'esca da quello del carro, riconoscendo la distribuzione di esso sulla superficie .
Il missile è montato anche sulla torretta del Jaguar (di cui potete recuperare i post), il SEA Akeron viene montato su torrette Narwhal oppure su alberi leggeri appositi, ma si sono visti molti esempi di retrofit semplici, inoltre il sistema di guida è aggiornato per non essere disturbato dal riflesso del mare.
Akeron LP è destinato ad armare gli elicotteri Eurocopter Tiger Francesi, ha una gittata superiore a 8km estesa a ben 20km se lanciato da un elicottero, il missile è in fase avanzata di test, infatti proprio ad Aprile di quest'anno ha colpito in una prova di volo un bersaglio in movimento a 6km dalla costa, dimostrando capacità anti imbarcazione.
Offre un sistema di guida alternativo oltre al presente IR\TV, ovvero la guida laser semiattiva, come l'MP può eseguire missioni Top Attack, prendendo di mira il tetto dei carri armati.
Più di 3000 missili Akeron MP sono in consegna avanzata alle forze armate Francesi, e altri alla Marina Egiziana, il Belgio segue con 760 missili ordinati, anche Cipro e Lussemburgo hanno ordinato piccoli lotti del missile, la Svezia sta ordinando il missile e collaborando per una variante nazionale.