Brimstone is a British MBDA precision-guided anti-armor and strike missile family built around millimetric-wave radar guidance, with Dual Mode Brimstone and Brimstone 2 adding laser-guided and longer-range options for constrained target selection. Originally fielded from RAF aircraft, it has also been adapted into surface-launched configurations, including donated Ukrainian ground-launch use against Russian armor and formations.
Supplied by the United Kingdom to the Armed Forces of Ukraine as an anti-tank precision missile; UK statements in 2024 said more than 1,300 Brimstones had been provided and cited battlefield use including helping force a Russian formation away from a river crossing. Secondary reporting of a UK Ministry of Defence social release identified Brimstone 2 deliveries, but official 2024 battlefield-use examples describe Brimstone generically.
Role detailsUsed by RAF Tornado and Typhoon aircraft during the coalition air campaign against Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria, including documented Brimstone attacks in support of Iraqi, Kurdish, and Syrian Democratic Forces.
Role detailsDeployed by the Royal Saudi Air Force in the Saudi-led coalition air campaign in Yemen; UK government evidence to Parliament said small numbers of Dual Mode Brimstone missiles had been used in the conflict.
Role detailsFielded by RAF Tornado GR4 aircraft in Afghanistan; a UK Ministry of Defence FOI release records Dual Mode Seeker Brimstone weapon releases by UK aircraft from Q3 2009 through the end of the UK strike table in Q3 2014.
Role detailsUsed by RAF Tornado GR4 aircraft during the NATO-led intervention; UK strike reporting said Tornados fired Brimstone missiles against Libyan government armored vehicles near Ajdabiya in March 2011.
Brimstone variants center on seeker, range, and platform-integration changes: the original millimetric-wave radar missile, Dual Mode Brimstone with laser guidance added, Brimstone 2 with improved reach and guidance, and Brimstone 3 under the SPEAR Capability 2 upgrade path.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single-mode Brimstone | Original millimetric-wave radar missile | The baseline missile was built for fire-and-forget anti-armor attack using millimetric-wave radar guidance. |
| Dual Mode Brimstone | Radar and semi-active laser guided variant | Dual Mode Brimstone added laser guidance to the radar-guided weapon, giving operators a man-in-the-loop option for more constrained target selection. |
| Brimstone 2 | Improved RAF service variant | Brimstone 2 entered RAF service on Tornado aircraft in July 2016 with roughly twice the launch range of its predecessor; Typhoon integration reached initial operating capability in December 2018, followed by an operational Typhoon firing in Syria in February 2019. Sources: Improved Brimstone missile enters service with RAF, The Defence Equipment Plan 2019, RAF Typhoons use Brimstone capability for the first time |
| Brimstone 3 | SPEAR Capability 2 upgrade | MBDA described the first Brimstone 3 firing as part of the SPEAR Capability 2 program, with updated hardware and software while retaining Brimstone's multi-platform role. Sources: First Brimstone 3 missile firing a tremendous success |
MBDA's surface-launched Brimstone material identifies Brimstone as a multi-platform missile adapted for land vehicles, helicopters, UAVs, naval platforms, and fixed-wing aircraft.
| Launcher | Launcher type | Launch evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Multirole fighter | MBDA's family overview says Brimstone is integrated on Eurofighter Typhoon, and the UK Ministry of Defence reported the RAF Typhoon Brimstone capability's first use from a Typhoon in 2019. Sources: RAF Typhoons use Brimstone capability for the first time, Brimstone Family - MBDA |
 | Strike aircraft | The UK Ministry of Defence's December 2015 RAF strike list records Tornado GR4 air strikes using Brimstone missiles, and MBDA's family overview says Brimstone was operational on Tornado GR4. Sources: RAF air strikes in Iraq and Syria: December 2015, Brimstone Family - MBDA |
 | Attack helicopter | MBDA says it and Boeing completed physical trials and firings of Brimstone on the AH-64E attack helicopter, including releases from hovering, moving, and manoeuvring scenarios. |
 | Armed RPAS | The UK government reported a trial firing of a dual-mode Brimstone precision missile from a Reaper, and MBDA later said Brimstone had been demonstrated from Reaper RPAS. Sources: Ambassador Westmacott visits RAF Squadron in Nevada, Brimstone - When missing is not an option |
 | 8x8 armoured vehicle | The Boxer datasheet says the surface-launched Brimstone solution uses the Boxer drive module without modification. Sources: SURFACE LAUNCHED BRIMSTONE, Boxer on Brimstone datasheet |
CSIS Missile Threat lists Brimstone's service entry with the United Kingdom in 2005.
Sources: Brimstone
UK Ministry of Defence FOI data record Dual Mode Seeker Brimstone releases by UK aircraft in Afghanistan beginning in 2009.
Sources: UK military aircraft air strikes with weapon release conducted in Afghanistan 2004 to 2014
UK reporting said RAF Tornado GR4 aircraft fired Brimstone missiles against Libyan government armored vehicles near Ajdabiya.
Sources: Brimstone missiles destroy armoured vehicles in Libya
The UK Ministry of Defence announced that Brimstone 2 had entered service with RAF Tornado aircraft after a modernization effort that improved range and guidance.
Sources: Improved Brimstone missile enters service with RAF
The UK Defence Equipment Plan reported that Project Centurion delivered Brimstone 2 onto Typhoon and achieved initial operating capability in December 2018.
Sources: The Defence Equipment Plan 2019
A RAF Typhoon FGR4 fired a Brimstone 2 missile against a Daesh boat on the Euphrates, the first operational Brimstone 2 firing from Typhoon after the aircraft's Project Centurion upgrade.
Sources: RAF Typhoons use Brimstone capability for the first time
MBDA reported a successful first Brimstone 3 firing under the SPEAR Capability 2 program.
Sources: First Brimstone 3 missile firing a tremendous success
The UK Defence Secretary announced a package including 200 more Brimstone anti-tank missiles for Ukraine.
Sources: Defence Secretary oral statement for the second anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine
