Meteor BVRAAM Development MoU Nears Finalization

The UK MoD's decision in May 2000 to opt for MATRA BAe Dynamics' Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) to arm RAF Eurofighters, in preference to a proposed ramjet-powered development of Raytheon's AMRAAM known as FMRAAM, was for next-generation technology, rather than early delivery schedules. Earlier last year, MBD deputy chief executive Alan Garrod told Show News that the rocket/ramjet Meteor was the only submission which met all the MoD's SR(A) 1239 BVRAAM requirements, and was the best technical solution.

"Although it's based on MATRA MICA technologies, Meteor is a completely new missile," Garrod said. "It will require about seven years from the contract date to enter service, but we're very confident about its prospects."

Negotiations between the original BVRAAM member companies, comprising MBD in the UK and France, DASA's LFK in Germany, Alenia Marconi Systems in Italy, CASA in Spain, and Sweden's SAAB Dynamics, have necessarily been protracted. In November 1999, Boeing joined the Meteor team, to provide marketing in the U.S., and expertise on program management. In the absence of similar U.S. technology, Meteor integration is now also being jointly studied by MBD and Boeing Military Aircraft & Missile Systems with the mission systems of Boeing F-15s and F/A-18s, and Lockheed Martin F-16s. Boeing has also expressed interest in development of a strike version of Meteor, as a possible AGM-88 HARM successor, as well as eventually replacing AMRAAM in world-wide beyond-visual-range interception roles.

Finalization of a six-nation Memorandum of Understanding for Meteor development, as a lead-in to a production contract, has been under way in the past few months, and its signature is imminent. Teaming arrangements specified MBD UK as prime contractor, with system design, integration and test responsibilities, and included Bayern Chemie & Royal Ordnance for the variable-thrust ducted rocket/ramjet; Alenia Marconi Systems for the active radar seeker; and Saab Dynamics for the proximity fuse. Mid-course inertial guidance will incorporate in-flight updating, and terminal homing will be assisted by optimized proportional navigation.

The Meteor and other MBD missile projects are now being taken over by MBDA, following MBD's current amalgamation with EADS' Aerospatiale missile unit, and Finmeccanica/BAE Systems' Alenia Missile Systems. EADS and MATRA BAe also fully control LFK. Meteor development costs are estimated at about $700 million, or some 50% of the overall program value. The participating countries have selected Meteor as the main weapons system for around 1,000 Eurofighter, JAS 39 Gripen and Dassault Rafale combat aircraft, representing a potential market of $5 billion to $10 billion.

On its planned service introduction date of March 2008, given initial contract signature this year, the 408-pound Meteor will offer NATO Eurofighters BVRAAM performance of Mach 4-plus cruise over ranges of more than 100 km, with an end-game capability to intercept targets maneuvering at 8-9g. This is likely to be matched only by the proposed R-77M ramjet-boosted version of Russia's Vympel R-77 RVV-AE (AA-12 "Adder") active radar-guided medium-range AAM, now seeking development funding.