Meteor Air-to-Air Missile Successfully Test Fired in Sweden

Released on Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Missile systems leader MBDA successfully test-fired its world-beating Meteor Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile on 6th March at the Vidsel Missile Test Range in Sweden. The firing follows on from previous successful trials undertaken in the UK and Swedenand is another significant event in the European six-nation Meteor project.

With between three and six times the kinematic performance of any current missile of its type,Meteor will provide the air forces of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the UK withuntouchable air dominance. Matched with high-end aircraft performance from the three platforms that Meteor will operate from (Typhoon, Rafale and Gripen), the six air forces will have a winning combination when the missile enters service.

The firing was carried out from a Saab Gripen aircraft against a MQM-107B 'Streaker' high-subsonic subscale aerial target. The missile test firing concludes a series of development firings to prove the overall performance of the missile and its various subsystems in terms of guidance, propulsion, data link and fuse.

The missile was rail-launched from the Gripen flying at 0.9 Mach and at an altitude of 18,000ft(5500m). Following the boost phasethe missile successfully transitioned to its ramjet operationand accelerated to its operational speed. The seeker then acquired the target and tracked itthrough to intercept. During the flight the missile's data link successfully demonstrated communication between the missile and the firing aircraft.

The key to Meteor's outstanding performance is the rocket motor. For the first time a solid fuel ramjet is being used to propel a missile. Already proven in earlier test firings, the unique solid fuel throttleable ducted rocket gives Meteor the ability to maintain high speed all the way to thetarget aircraft, making evasion virtually pointless.

Dave Armstrong, MBDA's Meteor Multinational Project Director said: "We're obviously delightedthat another test firing has gone so well. This follows on from the great progress we made lastyear and concludes the first phase of Meteor's development. Now with every parameter of themissile proven, definition of the pre-production standard of the missile can now be finalised. During 2008, together with our partners and suppliers, we'll be starting the pre-production industrialisation phase of the programme which will see the partner nations taking up theirproduction options. This is a proud day for MBDA and the Meteor team".

Antoine Bouvier, MBDA's CEO, said: "Once again, my congratulations to the Meteor Team onanother successful test firing. There is growing interest in this weapon system from around theworld as it will provide a step change in air combat capability. This guided firing will give our partners and potential export customers further confidence in the product and our programme."