The Meteor is a European active radar guided beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) developed and manufactured by MBDA. It offers a multi-shot capability (multiple launches against multiple targets), and has the ability to engage highly maneuverable targets such as jet aircraft, and small targets such as UAVs and cruise missiles in a heavy electronic countermeasures (ECM) environment with a range in excess of .
A solid-fueled ramjet motor allows the missile to cruise at a speed of over Mach 4 and provides the missile with thrust and mid-course acceleration. A two-way data link enables the launch aircraft to provide mid-course target updates or retargeting if required, including data from other parties. The data link can transmit missile information such as functional and kinematic status, information about multiple targets, and notification of target acquisition by the seeker. According to MBDA, Meteor has three (head-on) to six (tail-chase) times the no-escape zone of current (2018) air-to-air missiles of its class. The missile is equipped with both proximity and impact fuses to maximise destructive effects and reliability.
The fruit of a joint European project, Meteor missiles first entered service on the Swedish Air Force's JAS 39 Gripens in April 2016 and officially achieved initial operating capability (IOC) in July 2016. They also equip the French Air and Space Force and the Navy's Dassault Rafale, and the Eurofighter Typhoons of the Royal Air Force, German Air Force, Italian Air Force and Spanish Air Force. The Meteor is also intended to equip British and Italian F-35 Lightning IIs, and has been exported to various customers of the Rafale, Typhoon and Gripen.
History
Requirement Meteor was developed in response to the UK's Staff Requirement (Air) 1239 (SR(A)1239), for a Future Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (FMRAAM) to replace the RAF's Skyflash missiles. As the primary air-to-air armament of Eurofighter, the missile would be used against a range of fixed- and rotary-wing targets including unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles.
Although no detailed performance requirements have been publicly released, they were understood to demand launch success and no-escape zones approaching twice that of the then "state-of-the-art" medium-range missile, AMRAAM. The missile external geometry would be constrained by the need for compatibility with Eurofighter's semi-recessed underfuselage launchers which had been designed for the AMRAAM."No-Escape Zone", Flight International, 16–22 March 1994. Key features of the requirement included "stealthy launch, enhanced kinematics, which will provide the missile with sufficient energy to chase and destroy a highly agile manoeuvring target, robust performance in countermeasures and the ability for the launch aircraft to fire and disengage at the earliest opportunity thus enhancing aircraft survivability". These requirements were largely shaped by the perceived threat posed by advanced versions of the Russian Sukhoi Su-27 "Flanker" armed with extended range ramjet-powered versions of the R-77 missile.
Competition In February 1994 the UK MoD issued a Request for Information (RFI) for the development of an advanced medium range air-to-air missile. Four concepts were produced in response, all using integrated rocket/ramjet propulsion: S225XR from British Aerospace (BAe), Alenia Difesa, GEC-Marconi, and Saab Dynamics. A MICA derivative from Matra. Advanced Air-to-Air Missile (A3M) from Daimler-Benz Aerospace and Bayern-Chemie. An AMRAAM derivative from Hughes."Seeing double", Flight International, 15 March 1995
The formal competition commenced in June 1995 amid efforts by the UK, France, and Germany to align requirements and establish an industrial consortium."British court Germany and France on FMRAAM project", Flight International, 14–20 June 1995 Even at this early stage the procurement was developing into a European versus a US contest.
The US Government agreed to transfer development of the advanced propulsion system to the UK in support of the Hughes bid."USA offers ramjet sweetener", Flight International, 4–10 October 1995 Hughes' initial offering was powered by a variable-flow ducted rocket (VFDR) which had been under development by an Atlantic Research Corporation (ARC)/Alliant Techsystems team, but the USAF had no plans at that time to develop an extended range AMRAAM since this could endanger support for the stealthy F-22 Raptor. The team had also provided information to BAe which was considering the VFDR as a powerplant for the S225XR, along with systems from Bayern Chemie and Volvo. ARC had discussions with Royal Ordnance, the only UK company with the necessary capability following Rolls-Royce's decision to stop work on ramjets.
The UK MoD issued an Invitation to Tender (ITT) in December 1995. Responses were due in June 1996 for a UK contract valued at £800m. By February 1996, the US team was in place whereas the European effort remained fragmented.
European proposal Matra and DASA's missile division (LFK), were on the brink of a joint bid, which BAe and Alenia were also considering."Matra/DASA poised to make joint RAF missile bid", Flight International, 21–27 February 1996 The Matra/LFK proposal was based on Matra's MICA-Rustique project using self-regulating solid fuel ramjet. Matra and BAE's missile businesses were merged in 1996 with the formation of Matra BAe Dynamics (MBD). The European team, consisting of BAe Dynamics, Matra Defense, Alenia Difesa, GEC-Marconi, Saab Dynamics, LFK, and Bayern-Chemie was finally assembled just six weeks ahead of 11 June 1996 deadline for bids.. BAe brokered an agreement whereby it would lead the team.. This tie-up avoided a division in the European attempts to provide a credible alternative to the US bid.
BAe Dynamics' original S225XR proposal was a wingless design. However, during the international discussions the evolving UK and German proposals were found to be nearly identical in concept apart from the latter's wings. The trade-off between winged and wingless configurations was very closely balanced but the wings offered increased roll damping which was believed to be useful given the asymmetric intake configuration so the German A3M configuration was adopted for the European proposal, called Meteor.
Hughes proposal Hughes had assembled a team including Aérospatiale (propulsion), Shorts (integration and final assembly), Thomson-Thorn Missile Electronics (TTME), Fokker Special Projects (fin actuation), and Diehl BGT Defence (warhead). Incidentally, the adoption of FMRAAM as the name of Hughes' proposal forced the UK MoD to change the title of SR(A)1239 to BVRAAM.. Hughes would provide the seeker, with electronics from its Scottish subsidiary, Hughes Micro Electronics Europa. The upgraded guidance electronics would be compressed compared to the existing AMRAAM. Other changes included: a new electronic (as opposed to the usual mechanical) safe and arm device, based on Diehl BGT Defence's IRIS-T system; a two-way conformal microwave proximity fuze unit; and a shortened control and actuation system. The seeker and warhead were basically unchanged from AMRAAM's.
The European content of Hughes' bid had been bolstered by the replacement of the ARC/ATK VFDR by an Aérospatiale-Celerg liquid-fuel ramjet with an ARC integrated nozzleless booster. This was based on studies conducted during the Simple Regulation Ramjet programme, which began in 1994.. The direct-injection design used an inflatable elastomer bladder within the fuel tank to control the fuel flow and was believed to offer a lower cost approach compared to a regulated liquid ramjet requiring a turbopump and associated fuel supply hardware.. Eighty percent of FMRAAM production and development would be carried out in Europe, 72% in the UK..
Risk reduction When bids were submitted, it was anticipated that a contract would be awarded by late 1997 with first deliveries by 2005. Following several rounds of bid clarification it was concluded in early 1997 that the risks were too high to proceed directly to development. The UK's Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) and Sweden's Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) therefore launched a Project Definition and Risk Reduction (PDRR) programme. This gave the two teams twelve months to refine their designs, identify risks and develop mitigation. PDRR contracts were placed in August 1997 with a second ITT issued in October. By 1998 the in-service date (ISD), defined as the first unit equipped with 72 missiles, had slipped to 2007..
The UK MoD hosted a government level briefing on 14 and 15 July 1997 with Italy, Germany, and Sweden to discuss the BVRAAM programme, with the aim of pursuing a collaborative procurement.. Funding of the risk-reduction contracts was unresolved, and some nations were proposed financial contributions to the studies in return for data access.
The European team hoped that, if chosen by the UK, Meteor would also be adopted by Germany, Italy, Sweden, and France. Germany however, introduced an even more demanding requirement.. In response, DASA/LFK proposed a modified A3M, named Euraam, using a DASA Ulm K-band active seeker and a passive receiver for stealthy engagements, plus a redesigned Bayern Chemie propulsion system. The high energy of the high frequency radar (compared to the I-band used on AMRAAM) was claimed to provide an ability to "burn-through" most ECM and the shorter wavelength would allow the target's position to be determined more precisely allowing the use of directional warheads. At one stage DASA was pushing its government for a two-year demonstration programme which would culminate in four unguided flight tests. This was presented as a fallback position in case the UK chose Raytheon's proposal.
Revised BVRAAM bids were submitted on 28 May 1998. The US Secretary of Defense, William Cohen, wrote to his UK counterpart, George Robertson, with assurances that procurement of the Raytheon missile would not leave the UK vulnerable to US export restrictions, which could potentially handicap Eurofighter exports.. The letter assured "open and complete technology transfer", adding that FMRAAM would be cleared for countries already cleared for AMRAAM and that a joint commission could be set up to consider release to other "sensitive countries".
In July 1998, the governments of the UK, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and Spain signed a statement of intent agreeing to pursue joint missile procurement, contingent on the UK selecting Meteor.
In September 1998, Raytheon provided cost estimates for AIM-120B AMRAAMs to be fielded on Tornado aircraft and as an interim weapon on Eurofighter during BVRAAM development.. The US declined to sell the improved AIM-120C. This was the first stage in Raytheon's incremental approach to fielding FMRAAM; The MoD had allowed both teams to propose alternative strategies involving interim systems that would evolve into full capability weapons..
Raytheon's staged approach included the Extended Range Air-to-Air Missile (ERAAM) which had the FMRAAM seeker and guidance section mated to a dual-pulse solid propellant rocket motor. Raytheon estimated that ERAAM could be ready by the then Eurofighter ISD of 2004 and offered 80% of the FMRAAM capability at half the price. This approach appealed to MoD budget concerns and the diminishing urgency of the R-77 threat. Incremental upgrades would allow inclusion of tech like thrust vectoring, hybrid fuels, and ductless ramjets.
The Meteor team had considered an interim design, also powered by a dual-pulse solid rocket motor, but decided to offer a fully compliant solution, believing that the staged approach was not cost-effective due to concerns that upgrading from one version to the next would be more complicated than Raytheon claimed.