The Alenia Aermacchi M-346 advanced combat trainer will be capable to fire Brimstone anti-armour missiles: among the weapons surrounding the plane on static display in the Finmeccanica park at Farnborough Air Show 2012, there are also some Brimstones fire and forget anti-armour missiles, weapons that had a starring role in the Air War over Libya.
Optimized for release from fast moving platforms, these small guided missiles (which are an extensive redevelopment of the AGM-114 Hellfire) have a range of 7.5 miles. They use a millimeter wave (mmW) radar seeker with a semi-active laser (SAL) that enables final guidance to the target by either the launching platform or another plane, and are perfect for small targets, individuals, buildings and fast-moving vehicles.
With a warhead of 9 kg, capable of destroying a vehicle with very low collateral damage risk, and an accuracy of about 1 – 2 meters, the dual-mode (radar – laser) Brimstone missile proved to be the weapons of choice of the RAF Tornados when engaging ground vehicles.
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Therefore, after being involved in the first weapon delivery tests and flying with air-to-air missile on the wing tip pylon the M-346 could soon be involved in testing activities at Decimomannu airbase with the MBDA Brimstones.
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