What is the MBDA Meteor air-to-air missile capable of, which has “no analogues in the world”
The Meteor missile was developed by MBDA for the Eurofighter Typhoon, Gripen and Rafale. The ammunition is designed to hit maneuverable targets at long range.
It is worth noting that the creation of Meteor dragged on for more than two decades. Development in the interests of the Air Forces of France, Great Britain, Sweden, Germany, Spain and Italy began in 1994, and the ammunition entered service with the Swedish Air Force only in 2013.
However, considering the result, it is obvious that it was worth it.
Initially, the missile was carried exclusively by the Saab JAS-39 Gripen. Its adaptation to the Dassault Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon started later.
Regarding the ammunition itself, it’s worth starting with the fact that Meteor received a ramjet engine, which provides high speed and maneuverability. Detailed characteristics of the power plant have not been disclosed, but according to the developer, it was the engine that made it possible to increase the launch distance, at which the enemy aircraft’s chances of rescue tend to 0 (no-escape-zone), to 60 km, which is twice as much as the existing ones today there are missiles of this class.
It is known that the missile has a launch range of up to 200-300 km and can hit targets maneuvering with overloads of up to 11g. Moreover, its speed at the stage of attacking the target can reach 4 M.
MBDA Meteor has an active radar homing head, but can also receive target designation from other sources and operate in difficult electronic warfare environments.
The mass of the ammunition is 190 kg, length 3,67 meters.
It is worth noting that Meteor is considered one of the most effective air-to-air missiles. There is nothing like this in mass production, as the developers say, in any country in the world. In general, it’s a Western case where “there are no analogues in the world.”
However, this ammunition also has a number of disadvantages. In particular, high thermal signature and high cost (on average about $2 million per unit).
However, even despite the above-mentioned disadvantages, the rocket is in great demand. Moreover, not only in those countries in whose interests it was originally developed.
Thus, according to some reports, Brazil paid $200 million for 100 Meteors, while the United States purchases these missiles for $1 million per unit. However, it must be taken into account that the volume of the American order reaches 6,5 thousand units.
Other countries, such as India, also purchase MBDA Meteor, but their purchase volume is much smaller and the price is many times higher.
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