UK and France to develop next-gen air-to-air missile

Above: Meteor being loaded onto Typhoon.
Courtesy DE&S

The agreement, a key deliverable from the Lancaster House 2.0 treaty, reinforces the deep defence partnership between the two nations and their shared commitment to European security and NATO capability.

The 12-month study will assess the future threat landscape and develop new missile concepts capable of meeting the challenges of air warfare in the coming decades. The study will examine which technologies should be incorporated into a next-generation weapon system and establish a roadmap for its development.

The Meteor missile, currently in service with the Royal Air Force on Typhoon and the French Air Force on Rafale, represents a benchmark in European missile performance. 

Developed through a six-nation partnership, it demonstrates what can be achieved through close industrial collaboration. This new study aims to be a first step towards achieving similar success, ensuring that the UK, France and prospective partner nations maintain air superiority well into the future.

The initiative forms part of a revived Entente Industrielle between the two countries, focused on reducing duplication, improving industrial efficiency and strengthening NATO’s edge in high-end air combat. A new joint Complex Weapons Portfolio Office will be established to coordinate this and other missile programmes, ensuring closer alignment between national defence priorities and opening opportunities for cooperation with other countries.

Luke Pollard MP, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, said: "In a new era of threat we are increasing co-operation with our friends and allies. This agreement is a significant step forward in delivering on our Lancaster House 2.0 commitments, demonstrating the strength of our UK-France defence partnership.

“We are strengthening NATO’s capabilities and European security by working with France on the next generation of air-to-air missiles – exactly the kind of close collaboration needed to deter our adversaries in this new era of threat.”