Meteor missiles for F-35 aircraft
In the middle of the last decade, the European company MBDA began serial production of the advanced long-range air-to-air missile Meteor. At first, it weapon fighters of existing types received it, and later work began on integrating it into the F-35 aircraft's weapons system. Testing of the missile on such a carrier began last fall, but this became known only now.
Current media
Let us recall that the development of the technical specifications for a new air-to-air missile for the Air Forces of several European countries began back in the nineties. It was only in the early 2003s that general plans were drawn up and tactical and technical requirements were formulated. Full-scale development of the Meteor project began in XNUMX and reached the stage of testing the prototype weapon in the middle of the decade.
By the end of the decade, the countries participating in the project, seeing clear progress, began placing orders for serial missiles. The main buyers of Meteors were Great Britain, Germany, Italy and France. Subsequently, the number of customers continued to grow, and eventually the list of buyers included 11 countries.
The Meteor was developed with the use on different carrier aircraft available to the developing countries in mind. The main platform was the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter. Such aircraft are in service with Great Britain, Germany, Spain, Italy and Qatar.
Close-up of the compartment: deep in the volume is the Meteor rocket
France has integrated the Meteors into the armament suite of its Dassault Rafale fighter. Export versions of the Rafale with similar armament are operated by Greece, India, Qatar and Croatia. The last regular carrier of the Meteors was the Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighter, which is used by the Swedish and Brazilian Air Forces.
In May 2024, the Meteor missile began testing on a South Korean KF-21 fighter. The testing and integration process could take several years. However, Seoul has already placed an order for 100 production missiles.
"Meteor" on "Lightning"
It is easy to see that all current Meteor missile carriers belong to the 4th generation of fighters. At the same time, a number of European countries are planning and/or are transitioning to newer equipment. During such processes, it is planned to keep the "European" long-range missile in service.
In 2017, the UK Ministry of Defence awarded MBDA a contract to integrate new missiles into the weapons suite of the Typhoon and F-35B fighters. The first part of the task was completed fairly quickly, but work on the F-35B is still ongoing and is far from complete. Only recently have there been reports of the project's successes.
The British Defense Ministry first spoke about the ongoing work only at the end of February. It is reported that the tests of the Meteor missile on the F-35B Lightning II fighter began last fall. They are being conducted together with the United States and at an American base. The site for the test flights is the Patuxent River Air Force Base in Maryland.
Last year, American and British specialists carried out the necessary preparations and preliminary tests. On November 20, 2024, the first flight of the F-35B of the Royal Air Force of Great Britain with a new missile on the suspension took place. Over the past three months, a number of test flights have been carried out with various tasks. However, the details of the work are not specified
The official statement from the UK Ministry of Defence includes photographs of the experimental missile carrier. They show the Meteors mounted on the internal pylon of the F-35B. A fairly large munition is suspended on a central fixed holder. At the same time, an AIM-120 missile is mounted on the holder of the bay cover.
The Meteor was originally planned to enter service with the RAF's F-35Bs in the mid-2027s. However, that timeframe has now been pushed back to XNUMX. In light of recent testing, those plans look realistic.
Other countries are expected to benefit from the results of the British-American work. Germany, Greece and Italy are planning to buy Meteor missiles for their aircraft. All these countries want to equip their F-35A fighters, which they are buying for the Air Force, with the new missiles. In addition, Italy has ordered F-35B for its navy aviation and will buy missiles for them.
Subject of interest
The MBDA Meteor is a guided supersonic air-to-air missile designed for use by fighters against various air targets at significant ranges. Interestingly, the manufacturer has not yet disclosed all the characteristics and capabilities of its missile.
Meteor (background) and AIM-120
The rocket has a cylindrical body with an ogive head. In the lower part of the body there are two rectangular air intakes. In the tail there are X-shaped rudders for control in flight. The total length of the product is 3,67 m, the diameter is 178 mm. The launch weight reaches 190 kg.
To achieve maximum flight characteristics, the rocket received a ramjet engine. Its combustion chamber is located in the tail section of the body. Air enters through two intake devices under the body. Part of the internal volumes of the rocket is given over to liquid fuel.
With the help of a ramjet, the Meteor missile develops a speed of about 4 M. The flight range is officially designated as exceeding 200 km. The full range indicator is not disclosed for reasons of secrecy. It is noted that the ramjet compares favorably with solid-fuel engines. It has an increased operating time and improves the energy indicators of the missile. Thus, within a radius of 60 km, the target is guaranteed to be hit, and near the maximum range, the ability to actively maneuver is preserved.
The missile is equipped with a combined control system. It flies to the target area using inertial navigation. There is also radio communication with the carrier for updating data. Direct target acquisition and guidance are carried out using an active radar head.
The missile is equipped with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead of an unspecified mass. Two fuses are responsible for detonation upon impact with the target or when passing at a specified distance from it.
Swedish JAS 39 fighter and its armament: in the foreground is a Meteor missile
The Meteor missile is fundamentally compatible with a wide range of carriers. Its suspension means, connectors and electronics comply with NATO standards. The product was primarily developed for existing fighters that carry weapons on external nodes. In the case of the F-35A/B, internal suspension is also envisaged. This reportedly required a reduction in the span of the tail rudders, but no more serious modifications were required.
New stage
The MBDA Meteor air-to-air missile began to enter service with European air forces about 10 years ago. Despite the passage of time, it is still one of the longest-range models of its class in the arsenals. The countries operating it do not intend to abandon this weapon, and are also drawing up and implementing new plans.
Currently, the UK and the US are integrating the Meteor into the weapons suite of the latest generation F-35A/B fighter. It is expected that in two years, combat aircraft of this type will be able to carry and use such munitions. The UK Air Force will be the first to receive them, followed by other countries.
Thus, several countries have assessed the "European" Meteor missile and intend to keep it in service for as long as possible. For this purpose, work is currently underway on a new carrier, and additional measures may be taken in the future. The first full results of the current efforts will appear in 2027, but they can only be fully assessed in the distant future.
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