2017 Meteor Data Sheet_Layout 1 17/05/2017 15:00 Page 1

Meteor is the next generation Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile Meteor has been developed by a group of European partners led by
(BVRAAM) system designed to revolutionise air-to-air combat in the 21st MBDA to meet the needs of six European nations: the UK, Germany,
Century. The weapon brings together six nations with a common need to Italy, France, Spain and Sweden. The weapon system will equip
defeat the threats of today as well as the emerging threats of the future. Eurofighter Typhoon, Rafale and Gripen. It is also compatible with other
advanced fighter aircraft and will be integrated to the F-35 Lightning II
Guided by an advanced active radar seeker, Meteor provides all-weather Joint Strike Fighter.
capability to engage a wide variety of targets from agile fast jets to small
UAVs and cruise missiles. It is designed to meet the most stringent of
requirements and is capable of operating in the most severe of clutter
and countermeasure environments. The weapon is also equipped with
data link communication. Aimed at meeting the needs of a network
centric environment, Meteor can be operated using third party data,
enabling the Meteor user – the pilot – to have the most flexible
weapon system.

Meteor’s stunning performance is achieved through its unique ramjet

propulsion system – solid fuel, variable flow, ducted rocket. This ‘ramjet’
motor provides the missile with thrust all the way to target intercept,
providing the largest No Escape Zone of any air-to-air missile system. To
ensure total target destruction, the missile is equipped with both impact
and proximity fuses and a fragmentation warhead that detonates on
impact or at the optimum point of intercept to maximise lethality.
• World beating air dominance
• Large No Escape Zone – several times that of current MRAAM
• Effective operation in dense electronic warfare environments
• Network enabled capability through data link
• Leading edge technology accessed through the six European
industrial partner nations
• Will be available on the F-35 Lightning II
• In production/in service
2017 Meteor Data Sheet_Layout 1 17/05/2017 15:00 Page 2

MBDA Contacts

Sales and Business Development Sales and Business Development

1 avenue Réaumur Six Hills Way
92358 Le Plessis-Robinson cedex Stevenage
France Herts SG1 2DA
Tel. +33 1 71 54 10 00 United Kingdom
salesenquiries@mbda-systems.com Tel: +44 (0)1438 312422
www.mbda-systems.com

Propulsion Name
• Solid fuel variable flow ducted rocket (ramjet) • METEOR
Seeker
• Active RF Missile Characteristics
• Advanced, software centric • Rail and ejection launch capability
• Weight: 190 kg
Navigation & Guidance
• Length: 3.7 m
• Bank-to-turn or bank-while-turn manoeuvring
• Diameter: 178 mm
• Inertial mid-course with data link
• Autonomous terminal guidance using enhanced proportional navigation
Warhead
• Blast fragmentation
Fuses
• RF Proximity
• Impact
© MBDA - UK 2017-05-v.001 - Photo Credits: Rafale image ©DGA, Typhoon images ©GH Lee/MBDA
 MBDA MISSILE CAPABILITIES
F-35 LIGHTNING II

F-35 is a fully network-enabled, 5th generation multi-role fighter offering a combination of

advanced stealth, sensor fusion and data-links. To maximise the aircraft’s full potential in both
the air-to-air and air-to-surface operations, both now and in the future, requires advanced
missiles that are in keeping with the platform’s performance. MBDA is rising to this challenge
and is delivering world-beating latest generation weapons: ASRAAM, Meteor and SPEAR. These
weapons offer selectable precision, extended range, and network-centric effects that are
optimised for the F-35 and the future battlespace.
MBDA’s 5th generation missiles complement the advanced capabilities of the F-35

1 1

2 2

3
Air-to-Air: Gaining and maintaining air supremacy in an increasingly contested environment will be the highest priority for future air missions. Situational awareness
is critical to success and F-35’s integrated sensors and advanced information systems, when combined with weapons such as ASRAAM 1 and Meteor 2 , will give it
a clear advantage over other front-line fighter aircraft. The ability to see and not be seen (thanks to F-35’s lower RCS), combined with the added advantage of
MBDA’s air-to-air weapons and their superior engagement ranges is already redefining air-to-air combat tactics. Deployed from within F-35’s internal weapons bay
(stealth is not compromised), Meteor is ‘network enabled’ via data-link, fully optimising the situational awareness advantages of the F-35. In addition, its
throttleable ramjet and active radar seeker combine to provide unmatched end-game speed and manoeuvrability at greatly extended ranges, resulting in a No-Escape
Zone several times greater than other existing or planned BVR weapons. Meteor’s advantages make it equally a weapon of dissuasion as any enemy will think twice
before entering airspace controlled by F-35s.
For WVR scenarios, ASRAAM’s unmatched off-rail fly-out and high speed and resultant aerodynamic manoeuvrability provide the greatest dominance of any missile
in its class with a first shot, first kill capability. Notably it offers 360º engagement coverage, including over-the-shoulder firing capability in LOAL mode.
Air-to-Surface (Land and Sea): F-35 will be meeting the needs of both air forces and navies around the world for years to come. Clearly the surface target set for
these different users will vary greatly, ranging from SEAD right through to the need to counter small, fast moving naval craft in the littoral. To provide maximum
flexibility and effect against both static and fast moving targets, MBDA is developing SPEAR 3 specifically for the F-35. This high precision, turbojet propelled
weapon can be tactically employed at significantly increased stand-off range, a key advantage over glide weapons and guided bombs.
SPEAR benefits from robust INS/GPS guidance throughout the flight envelope and a multi-mode seeker using advanced targeting modes provides increased target
selectivity even in the most complex of operational scenarios. Capable of operating night and day and in all weather conditions, SPEAR fits compactly inside the
internal carriage bay (four missiles per bay for a total of eight missiles) allowing for maximum operational capability per sortie. The weapon’s multiple-effects
warhead ensures not only optimised lethality for current and future threats but also minimal collateral damage. SPEAR’s two-way data-link allows in-flight updates,
re-targeting and abort functions. For maximum operational flexibility, SPEAR can be deployed in fire-and-forget and SAL modes as well as within a networked
environment, thereby taking full advantage of F-35’s network enabled characteristics. A range of land targets and the threat posed by swarming, fast moving naval
attack craft, traditionally very difficult to counter, all fall within this next generation weapon’s remit.
 MBDA MISSILES
IDENTIFICATION

ASRAAM Missile Characteristics

• Weight: 88 kg (194 lbs)
• Length: 2.9 m (9ft 6 inches)

Meteor Missile Characteristics

• Weight: 190 kg (419 lbs)
• Length: 3.7 m (12ft 1 inch)

SPEAR Missile Characteristics

• Weight: <100 kg (< 220 lbs)
• Length: <1.8 m (< 5ft 10 inches)

2 x ASRAAM, 2 x Meteor, 8 x SPEAR 2 x ASRAAM, 4 x Meteor – total SPEAR – multi-target, multi-

– full multi-role capability domination of the airspace effect, exceptional precision

EXCELLENCE AT YOUR SIDE

MBDA Contacts

Sales and Business Development

Six Hills Way
Stevenage
Herts SG1 2DA
Tel: +44 (0) 1438 312422
salesenquiries@mbda-systems.com
www.mbda-systems.com