U.K. Supplies Brimstone 2 Guided Missiles to Ukraine – The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence confirmed the delivery of Brimstone 2 guided missiles to Ukraine on Sunday, adding that the weapons will play a crucial role in helping Ukraine fend off Russian advancements in the Donbas and other parts of Ukraine.
🎬 As part of its aid package, the UK has provided Brimstone 2 missiles, a precision-guided missile, to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
This aid has played a crucial role in stalling Russian advancements.
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/SpVnWqeiVm
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) November 27, 2022
Video footage of the missiles being delivered by a Royal Air Force plane was also shared on the Ministry of Defence Twitter account.
The video showed British soldiers and logistics experts handling the weapons, loading them onto the plane, and delivering them to Ukraine.
The weapons were loaded at the Royal Air Force Brize Norton base in Oxfordshire.
“As part of its aid package, the UK has provided Brimstone 2 missiles, a precision-guided missile, to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This aid has played a crucial role in stalling Russian advancements,” the tweet reads.
The delivery of the missiles was expected, with the British government announcing plans for the transfer on November 21.
These Aren’t the First Brimstone Missiles In Ukraine
Britain has supported Ukraine with military equipment since the beginning of the invasion, and Brimstone missiles have been part of the U.K.’s military for six months.
The latest transfer, however, reportedly builds on that previous support by providing more advanced versions of the weapon.
In May, the British subsidiary of MBDA, a European missile systems firm, agreed to provide Brimstone missiles to Ukraine with a view to integrating the weapons into the Polish vehicle program, Ottokar Brzoza, that would replace Ukraine’s Soviet BRDM-2 armored scout cars.
Eastern European news outlet shared video footage of the first Brimstone missiles being used in combat in eastern Ukraine. The video footage showed two successful missile launches which destroyed two Russian tanks.
First footage of British supplied #Brimstone missiles used against #Russian forces in the east. The video shows the successful firing of two tanks. pic.twitter.com/vhVx3slk2X
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) May 18, 2022
What is the Brimstone 2?
The Brimstone 2 is a modified and advanced version of the original Brimstone missile that was delivered to Ukraine earlier this year.
The missile’s improved homing head and modular design, combined with updated software, improve its accuracy and performance.,
When launched from the air, the missile has a range of up to 60km. The missile can also be launched from the ground, reaching targets from as far away as 12km.
The laser guidance system also means the missile can be fired with great accuracy – a vital tool for Ukrainian forces at a time when Russian troops are attempting fresh offensives under the cloak of indiscriminate and widespread bombing campaigns across Ukrainian cities.
Jack Buckby is 19FortyFive’s Breaking News Editor.