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Meteor (missile)

Not to be confused with AAM-N-5 Meteor, Meteor (rocket), or Kh-80.
Meteor
TypeBeyond visual range air-to-air missile
Place of originEurope (multinational)
Service history
In serviceSince 2016
Production history
ManufacturerMBDA
Unit cost€2,000,000 (2019)[1]
Specifications
Mass190 kg (419 lb)[2]
Length3.65 m (12 ft 0 in)[3]
Diameter17.8 cm (7.0 in)
WarheadHigh explosive blast-fragmentation
Detonation
mechanism
Proximity/impact fuze
EngineThrottleable ducted rocket (ramjet)
Operational
range
  • Maximum range: 200 km (110 nmi)+[4]
  • No Escape Zone: 60 km (32 nmi)+[5]
Maximum speed Over Mach 4
Guidance
system
Inertial guidance, mid-course update via datalink, terminal active radar homing
Launch
platform

The Meteor is a European active radar guided beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) developed and manufactured by MBDA. It offers a multi-shot capability (multiple launches against multiple targets), and has the ability to engage highly maneuverable targets such as jet aircraft, and small targets such as UAVs and cruise missiles in a heavy electronic countermeasures (ECM) environment with a range far in excess of 200 kilometres (110 nmi).[7]

A solid-fueled ramjet motor allows the missile to cruise at a speed of over Mach 4 and provides the missile with thrust and mid-course acceleration.[8][9] A two-way data link enables the launch aircraft to provide mid-course target updates or retargeting if required, including data from other parties. The data link can transmit missile information such as functional and kinematic status, information about multiple targets, and notification of target acquisition by the seeker.[3] According to MBDA, Meteor has three to six times the kinetic performance of current air-to-air missiles of its type. The missile is equipped with both proximity and impact fuses to maximise destructive effects and reliability.[10]

The fruit of a joint European project, Meteor missiles first entered service on the Swedish Air Force's JAS 39 Gripens in April 2016 and officially achieved initial operating capability (IOC) in July 2016.[6][11][12] They also equip the French Air and Space Force and the Navy's Dassault Rafale, and the Eurofighter Typhoons of the Royal Air Force, German Air Force, Italian Air Force and Spanish Air Force. The Meteor is also intended to equip British and Italian F-35 Lightning IIs, and has been exported to various customers of the Rafale, Typhoon and Gripen.

  1. ^ "MBDA Bags €200M Meteor Missile Deal for Brazilian Gripen NG Jets". DefenseMirror.com. 10 June 2019.
  2. ^ "METEOR | Air Dominance".
  3. ^ a b "Meteor - Beyond visual range air-to-air missile". saab.com. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  4. ^ "Gripen-E performs 1st Meteor Missile test shot". Flightglobal.
  5. ^ Dunlop, Tom. "The Meteor Missile - A Guide". ukdefencejournal. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  6. ^ a b Tomkins, Richard (11 July 2016). "Meteor missiles now on Swedish Gripens". UPI.
  7. ^ "METEOR". Πολεμική Αεροπορία (in Greek). Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  8. ^ "Meteor". mbda-systems.com. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  9. ^ "The Most Advanced Air-to-Air Missile In The World". saab.com. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  10. ^ "METEOR | Air Dominance". MBDA. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
  11. ^ Aviation week, October 7, 2012, archived from the original on January 18, 2014, retrieved May 14, 2022
  12. ^ "PARIS: MBDA on target for Meteor introduction". Flightglobal.com. Retrieved 30 January 2016.

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