𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 Lets discuss… The Meteor Beyond Visual Range Air to Air Missile. origin story - ThreadSky

Nice, very informative but just shows how long modern weaponry takes to get into service and the perils of multinational programmes

reply

thinkdefence.bsky.social•18 days ago

Read more about the long and complex history of Meteor at the link

END

https://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2022/11/meteor-beyond-visual-range-air-to-air-missile-bvraam/

reply

thinkdefence.bsky.social•18 days ago

As of September 2022, the Meteor programme has cost the UK approximately £1.2 billion. Work continued on Spiral Development 1.1 and 2 throughout 2023, and it was reported that a decision on the Mid-Life Update would be due by the end of 2024.

reply

thinkdefence.bsky.social•18 days ago

The £135m Typhoon Phased Enhancement Package 3c contract was let in 2021, designed to improve several Typhoon capabilities, including those of operating Meteor.

reply

thinkdefence.bsky.social•18 days ago

The Meteor entered service with the RAF on Typhoon in 2017, 17 years after selection and approximately 25 years since the requirement was first mooted.

reply

thinkdefence.bsky.social•18 days ago

In the same year, a dual firing of a Meteor from a Typhoon was completed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDhm1WMSiUI&feature=youtu.be

reply

thinkdefence.bsky.social•18 days ago

In 2017, the MoD awarded MBDA a £41 million contract to start integrating Meteor with F-35B, including modifications to allow internal carriage such as clipped rear fins

reply

thinkdefence.bsky.social•18 days ago

Under Project CENTURION, the RAF integrated Meteor on Typhoon, exploring and developing new tactics to exploit its capabilities and building up sufficient stocks and support arrangements. It was announced in December 2012, the first Meteor firing from a Typhoon had taken place

reply

thinkdefence.bsky.social•18 days ago

The first flight of Meteor was in 2005, from a French Navy Rafale F2. Gripen and Typhoon firings were completed as part of the extended development programme. Production commenced in 2012, with exports following

reply

thinkdefence.bsky.social•18 days ago

Germany eventually approved funding and promptly cut its requirement by more than 50%, oh Germany. In 2002, the MoD awarded a £1.2 Billion contract for the demonstration and manufacture phases of Meteor

reply

thinkdefence.bsky.social•18 days ago

In 2001, Aérospatiale joined MBD and MBDA was formed. Following the decision, a round of negotiation and yet more industrial trade-offs commenced. Germany was particularly difficult, delaying funding for two years and causing MBDA to commit its funds for the German motor provided by Bayern-Chemie

reply

thinkdefence.bsky.social•18 days ago

In 1999, France also expressed an interest in the Meteor project with offers of 20% funding, but only if the UK selected it. France joined the programme at the end of the year. After pulling out in 1998, Sweden re-joined in 1999. In May 2000, the MoD announced the UK had selected Meteor.

reply

thinkdefence.bsky.social•18 days ago

To assuage fears about US political interference with arming the Eurofighter, the US Secretary of Defense wrote to the UK with assurances about export issues. Delays meant there would be a gap between Typhoon entering service and FVRAAM being available.

reply

thinkdefence.bsky.social•18 days ago

Hughes used the delay to add Diehl, and confirmed that Shorts Missile Systems would continue their involvement, as would Aérospatiale Missiles, with their RASCAL liquid fuel ramjet and an integral nozzle-less solid-propellant boost charge. Diehl would also use Thomson-Thorn Missile electronics

reply

thinkdefence.bsky.social•18 days ago

After a number of bid clarification sessions, the MoD concluded that there was too much uncertainty in both submissions and, rather than decide on full-scale development, awarded two £5m risk reduction studies to both Hughes and BAE in 1997. A second ITT was issued the same year.

reply

thinkdefence.bsky.social•18 days ago

The BAE offering, now including Matra, Daimler-Benz LFK, Saab, Alenia and GEC Marconi, became Meteor in 1996.

reply

thinkdefence.bsky.social•18 days ago

After much back and forth, two consortia emerged. Hughes with Shorts, Matra Thomson Thorn, Aérospatiale, and Fokker. They cheekily called their missile the FVRAAM.

reply

thinkdefence.bsky.social•18 days ago

As understanding of Russian weapons such as the R-77 missile matured, the need for longer range, ECM resistance and extreme agility at range became the defining requirements for SR (A) 1239 and FVRAAM.

reply

thinkdefence.bsky.social•18 days ago

S225X drew on earlier design studies completed by the industrial consortium; merging earlier requirements, Advanced Air to Air Missile (A3M) and Future Operational Requirement MICA (FORMICA)

reply

thinkdefence.bsky.social•18 days ago

SRA 1239 was designated Future Medium Range Air to Air Missile (FMRAAM). Initially, there were two contenders; Hughes with an improved AIM-120 AMRAAM and a BAE-led consortium, called S225X, comprising Saab, GEC Marconi Dynamics and Alenia. An extended R version was called S225XR

reply

thinkdefence.bsky.social•18 days ago

The History of the Meteor Beyond Visual Range Air to Air Missile (BVRAAM) goes back to the early nineties with the requirement to replace the Skyflash AAM on the Eurofighter 2000, it was intended to be in service by 2000. Staff Requirement (Air) 1239 defined the requirement

reply

Comments

Posting Rules

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply