HC Deb 04 February 1999 vol 324 cc739-40W
Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the air-launched anti-armour weapon; and if he will list the project milestones. [68503]

Mr. Spellar

[holding answer 3 February 1999]: The air-launched anti-armour weapon is designed to reduce the fighting power of enemy armoured forces as early and as far forward as possible by defeating modern and future Main Battle Tanks, Armoured Personnel Carriers and Self Propelled Guns. It is intended to be fitted on Tornado GR4, Harrier GR7 and Eurofighter. Following international competition a development and production contract was awarded to GEC Marconi Radar and Defence Systems for their BRIMSTONE weapon system on 6 November 1996.

The first flight of the missile on a Tornado took place in December 1998. Forthcoming milestones for the project are:

  • the completion of launcher development in April 1999,
  • air firing trials starting in June 1999; and
  • flight trials and the demonstration of seeker performance in August 1999.

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