Lockheed Martin and European weapons manufacturer MBDA have completed ground integration tests of the Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile with the F-35A fighter jet, marking a key step toward equipping the stealth aircraft with one of the world’s most advanced air-to-air weapons.
The tests at Edwards Air Force Base in California included ground vibration testing, internal weapons bay fit checks, and confirmation of communications between the aircraft and missile systems, the F-35 Joint Program Office said on Dec. 3.
The work demonstrated that the European-produced ramjet-powered missile “can be safely stowed and deployed from the F-35A’s internal weapons bay” without compromising the aircraft’s stealth profile, according to the program office. One additional ground test remains before flight testing can begin.
RAMJET ADVANTAGE
The Meteor missile represents a significant capability upgrade for F-35 operators. The weapon maintains powered flight throughout its trajectory using a ramjet motor, reaching speeds exceeding Mach 4 with an effective range beyond 100 kilometers.
This differs from conventional air-to-air missiles that burn fuel during an initial boost phase and then glide unpowered to their targets, gradually losing speed and energy that limits their effective range.
The missile is already operational on European fighters including the Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale, and Saab Gripen. It measures 3.7 meters long, weighs 190 kilograms, and features cropped fins modified to fit inside the F-35’s internal weapons bay.
FIRST FLIGHT TESTS
A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B conducted the first flight test with an inert Meteor missile in February, flying from Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland. The UK Royal Air Force announced the test, which gathered environmental data as part of the weapons integration campaign.
Italy is sponsoring Meteor integration on the F-35A conventional takeoff variant, while the UK leads integration efforts for the F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing model. Germany and Italy will be the first F-35A operators to deploy the weapon.
The Meteor is being integrated as part of the F-35’s Block 4 upgrade program, which is expected to reach operational status in the early 2030s. The weapon is a product of a six-nation European cooperation program involving the UK, Italy, France, Germany, Spain and Sweden.
Integration timelines for other F-35 operators have faced repeated delays, potentially putting the American stealth fighter at a competitive disadvantage in export competitions against European aircraft already cleared to carry the weapon.
