The UK has ordered Raytheon AGM-65G2 Maverick air-to-surface missiles to provide an improved interim anti-tank capability for its Royal Air Force BAE Systems Harrier GR7 fleet.
During last year's Operation Allied Force against Yugoslavia, the RAF established an urgent operational requirement (UOR) for a precision anti-armour missile. Some initial work was performed, but the UOR procedure stopped when the conflict ended.
UK Defence Minister Geoff Hoon has also committed to buying secure communications for RAF aircraft and global positioning system (GPS) satellite navigation-guided precision munitions for the Panavia Tornado.
Hoon says secure communications trials are complete and preparations are under way to fit the system to a number of aircraft. Maverick integration trials are in the final stages. The funding will come from £200 million ($305 million) allocated to the Ministry of Defence earlier this year.
The Harrier fleet is due to receive the Alenia Marconi Systems Brimstone anti-armour weapon, which will become operational next year. Maverick is not just a short-term solution, however, but is likely to remain in UK service beyond Brimstone deliveries.
Maverick is a lock-on-before-launch missile, while Brimstone selects its target within an area established by the firing aircraft - a lock-on-after-launch weapon. The use of Brimstone could be limited by strict rules of engagement.
The AGM-65G2 has an infrared seeker and a 135kg (300lb) blast-penetrator fragmentation warhead. The G2 has software for anti-armour strike, whereas earlier AGM-65Gs were optimised for anti-bunker operations.
The UK has also been briefed on the Raytheon Enhanced Paveway, which integrates GPS into the Paveway laser-guided bomb (LGB) kit, providing precision guidance in conditions not suitable for laser guidance. The bomb has the same fit, form and function as the LGB, easing the integration task but adding an all-weather capability.
Acquiring Enhanced Paveway would give the RAF an all-weather, precision-strike capability before its SR1248 competition could deliver a weapon in about 2006.
• Saudi Arabia has requested a US Foreign Military Sale of 500 Raytheon AIM-120C AMRAAM medium range, radar-guided air-to-air missiles.
The sale is likely to be included in the US Department of Defense's Lot 15 AMRAAM buy scheduled for March 2001. Deliveries start two years later.
Source: Flight International
