Brimstone Missile Joins Syria War as U.K. Hits Islamic State
- Precision weapon can target vehicle moving at 70 miles an hour
- Critics say deployment raises terror threat for limited gain
An RAF Tornado GR4 carrying a Brimstone missile.
Photographer: Corporal Mike Jones/Crown CopyrightThis article is for subscribers only.
Britain’s intervention in the war in Syria, backed by lawmakers late Wednesday, will bolster the fight against Islamic State with a precision weapon that military experts say should broaden the range of enemy assets that can be destroyed at minimal risk to civilians.
The Brimstone missile, deployed on the Royal Air Force Tornado jets that went into action over Syria within hours of the House of Commons vote, uses a combined radar and laser guidance system to hit targets including fast-moving vehicles, while deploying a relatively small warhead to limit the blast zone.