Intended to arm the ‘Euro-canards’ (Gripen, Rafale and Typhoon) and possibly integrate into the RAF’s JSFs, the MBDA Meteor ramjet-powered missile is taking giant strides towards service entry. Recent successful guided firings have paved the way for trials of production-representative missiles, keeping the program on track for an in-service date of 2013.
A multi-national consortium is developing the Meteor to satisfy the future beyond-visual-range air defense needs of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the UK. It is managed by an international joint project office located at the UK MoD’s Abbeywood facility. MBDA serves as the prime contractor, leading a host of suppliers from the six partner nations.
Able to reach out well beyond 100 kilometers, the Meteor employs inertial midcourse guidance with two-way datalink and active radar terminal guidance. An integrated solid-propellant motor initially boosts it off the rail before the switch to variable-flow ducted rocket ramjet power. Bayern Chemie, a subsidiary of MBDA Deutschland/LFK, makes the propulsion sub-system.
