The UK has decided to forgo a planned mid-life upgrade of the Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, opting instead to develop an entirely new successor. According to UK Defence Journal, citing Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard, the replacement missile will be selected through the Future Air Superiority Effectors (FASE) programme, which is focused on delivering next-generation air-to-air weapons for future crewed and uncrewed combat aircraft.
Meteor Successor Programme
Developed by MBDA, the Meteor is a ramjet-powered beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile that entered operational service with the Royal Air Force’s Eurofighter Typhoon fleet in 2018. The missile is also scheduled for integration with the F-35B as part of the Block 4 modernization programme.
Pollard previously informed Parliament that the FASE initiative remains in its pre-concept phase and is intended to define future air-to-air weapon systems capable of supporting both manned fighters and autonomous combat platforms.
In parallel, the United Kingdom and France recently agreed to launch a 12-month joint study to examine a successor to the Meteor. The study will evaluate emerging missile technologies, advanced propulsion concepts, enabling systems, and a potential development roadmap to address future aerial threats.
About the Meteor
The Meteor is powered by a throttleable solid-fuel ramjet engine that provides sustained propulsion throughout much of its flight, giving the missile one of the largest no-escape engagement zones among operational beyond-visual-range air-to-air weapons.
The multinational programme, led by MBDA with contributions from Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo, was initiated in the late 1990s to replace older radar-guided missiles that struggled against highly maneuverable targets at extended ranges.
Since entering service, the Meteor has been integrated with frontline combat aircraft including the Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, and JAS 39 Gripen. Rather than introducing new variants, the programme has concentrated on software enhancements and datalink improvements to strengthen network-centric warfare capabilities and overall performance.
However, advances in electronic warfare systems and the emergence of long-range air-to-air missiles such as China’s PL-17 have highlighted the need for a next-generation successor capable of maintaining air combat superiority in future operational environments.
