During the Cold War, Brilliant Anti-Tank (BAT) was a manned, unpowered glide bomb that was designed to be fired from an Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS). Its 5.5-inch diameter and tail fins allowed the BAT to strike in weak points on the armored vehicle, thereby maximizing damage to the tank turret. After its development, the submunition became a glide bomb for the United States Air Force (GBU-44/B Viper Strike).
Brilliant Anti-Tank submunition was originally developed as a payload to an MGM-137B TSSAM ballistic missile. However, it was intended to engage Soviet tanks. The submunition can track a target with an acoustic receiver and fire one round at it. Because it was designed to carry a high explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead, the submunition was optimized for Soviet tanks. It was too powerful for urban targets. It also failed to successfully transfer to level flying. To counter this, the submunition was equipped with a tandem shaped-charge warhead. A laser seeker could also be carried by the submunition. The system could operate both day and night, and it could operate from a wide range of distances.
AGM-114 Hellfire, a small precision munition that was made available to air platforms during the Global War on Terror, was the most important. It wasn't well suited to many point targets. The warhead's High Explosive anti-Tank (HEAT), was made for Soviet tanks, infantry formations and other military vehicles. The HEAT weaponhead was too powerful for precision targets in urban areas and was not suitable for point targets. The Pentagon ordered a study on Terminally Guided Anti-Armor Indirect Fire Weapon System. Later, the Brilliant Anti-Tank submunition was created.
The brilliant anti-tank submunition was a part of the "Assault Breaker" project, which was an initiative to develop weapons that could target Soviet armored formations that were buried deep behind front lines. These weapons could be used to rapidly kill large numbers armored vehicles giving the United States an advantage during future conflicts.
Lockheed Martin created the Brilliant Antitank submunition as part its Army Tactical Missile System. It is designed to be used against moving armored vehicles. The submunition has a combat range up to 800m. For initial target acquisition, the submunition uses passive acoustic wingstip sensors and an imaging infrared sensor. To target armored vehicles, the submunition can also use a multi-mode seeker.
The Army TACMS block IIA is home to the brilliant anti-tank weapon. It is a semi-ballistic, multi-purpose missile that can operate night and day. It can deploy up six P3I BAT Brilliant Anti-Armor submarines. The Block II ATACMS can operate both day and night and can also operate existing weapons. The block II ATACMS also has an extended range. The block II ATACMS precision engagement weapon uses US missile design expertise.
The Pentagon continues to develop new weapons. These "brilliant" weapons could kill large numbers of armored vehicle in a matter of seconds. This makes them an integral part of any defense strategy. They are also highly portable, so they can be quickly used to kill armored cars, giving early-arriving forces an advantage in battle. These "brilliant weapons" could provide a solution for future conflicts such as the gulfwar. They could also be used in future invasions.