April 10, 200719 yr From Jane's Defence Weekly 10 April 2007 Cluster weapons ban leaves gap in UK inventory By Robert Hewson Editor, Jane's Air-Launched Weapons London On 20 March UK Defence Secretary Des Browne announced that all of the UK's remaining 3,650 RBL 755 cluster bombs and their 536,550 submunitions would be immediately withdrawn. M26 rockets for the British Army Royal Artillery's Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) batteries are also being scrapped - 43,200 rockets containing 27,820,800 submunitions. The army will retain its AT2 MLRS anti-tank rockets, which are classed as 'smart' weapons because each submunition is fitted with a self-destruct fuze. However, the UK Royal Air Force (RAF) now has no area weapon for the close air support role that has become a crucial tasking for the deployed fast jet fleet. The RAF has undertaken suppression of enemy air defences tactics development using a mix of Brimstone air-to-surface missiles and Air-Launched Anti-Radiation Missiles. RAF sources have told Jane's that the Brimstone's millimetre-wave radar seeker (which images targets to classify them into vehicle types) lacks the required discrimination against more regular targets to be employed within current rules of engagement.
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