New Zealand boosts defence spend to US$6.6 billion and vows increased closeness with Australia
This budget will be spent over the next four years and nearly doubles the country’s defence spending as part of GDP to 2%.
RAF tests enhanced Brimstone
The latest technical enhancements of the MBDA Brimstone air-to-surface missile have been tested in operational trials by the Royal Air Force (RAF) at China Lake in the US, the company announced on 5 March.
According to the company the trials confirm the performance of the enhancements, which include increased missile engagement envelope (a 100 percent increase in stand-off range based on MBDA modelling and release ranges of the in-service missile); and increased ability to engage targets at high off-bore sight angles. The improves the ability to fire from a launch platform performing a close air support (CAS) flying pattern over the battlefield, without the need to manoeuvre the platform to align with the target.
The firings also demonstrated the new Insensitive Munition warhead against armoured and non-armoured targets.
Eleven firings were conducted during the evaluation in a variety of operational scenarios with precise hits on very small, fast moving vehicles and against complex static targets. The trials included single and salvo firings, whilst laser, millimetric radar and dual mode guided modes were used, as was ground-based, third party laser designation.
An integration programme for the enhanced capability for the RAF’s Eurofighter Typhoon is set for 2018. Separate activities are being conducted for Brimstone’s potential use on the UK’s Future Attack Helicopter and Protector remotely-piloted aircraft system (RPAS).
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