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Defence

SPEAR missile bound for F-35B achieves firing milestone

A joint UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and industry team conducted the first in a series of trials of the MBDA-designed SPEAR air-to-surface cruise missile from a BAE Systems-operated Typhoon test and evaluation jet at Vidsel range in Sweden.

Above: A SPEAR missile in front of an F-35B fighter jet.
Courtesy DE&S / © Jamie Hunter/MBDA

This guided firing marks a critical milestone in the development and maturity of the SPEAR programme, which is managed by DE&S.

Once in service on the F-35B fighter jet, SPEAR will provide a potent strike capability, enabling the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force to project power at increased range from both land bases and when deployed from Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers as part of the Carrier Strike Group.

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Dean Pask, the MoD’s Senior Responsible Owner for SPEAR, said: “This guided firing represents a major step in the capability development of the SPEAR programme, and is the first in a campaign of firings to demonstrate the missile’s capabilities. The success of this test is a testament to the hard work and collaborative efforts of our industry partners at MBDA and BAE Systems, as well as MoD personnel across multiple teams.”

Above: A BAE Systems Typhoon jet carrying a SPEAR missile during a guided firing trial in Sweden.
Courtesy DE&S / © MBDA

Each F-35B aircraft will be able to carry up to eight SPEARs, providing the next generation of stand-off air-to-surface missiles for Suppression of Enemy Air Defences missions in challenging and complex operating environments. The turbojet-powered miniature cruise missiles have a range of over 100 kilometres and can find their targets using a combination of laser, radar or GPS-aided guidance.

The trial, which did not carry a live warhead, demonstrated the release, gather and long-range free-flight control of the missile following a high-altitude and high-speed release from the Typhoon aircraft. It also demonstrated the missile’s ability to autonomously navigate to its target via predefined waypoints, using its advanced all-weather radar seeker to map the target area and then use seeker radiofrequency imagery to successfully engage with it.

Matthew Brown, SPEAR Team Leader at DE&S, said: “This trial was a key step on the way to delivering SPEAR to the UK front-line, where it will provide a new capability to defeat the most complex air defence systems, enabling pilots to fly and fight wherever they’re needed in defence of the UK and its allies.”

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Developed in the UK by MBDA, work on the SPEAR missile system supports several hundred jobs among MBDA’s 5,500-strong UK workforce. The first guided firing follows an extensive series of ground and flight trials, including captive flights by Typhoons.

Image courtesy DE&S / © MBDA

Mike Mew, Tactical Strike Director of MBDA, said: “SPEAR is a truly unique weapon system – the first to offer the range, flexibility, precision and load-out to defeat modern enemy air defences. The success of this trial is thanks to excellent joint working from teams across MoD, BAE Systems and MBDA.”

Earlier this summer, DE&S and MBDA signed the 10-year Portfolio Management Agreement 2, which represents the renewal of a long-term strategic relationship through which complex weapon systems design, development, production and support will be conducted. It supports £6.5 billion of planned investment in the UK weapons industry by the MoD over the next decade and also covers Brimstone, CAMM, Sea Viper, Sea Venom and Storm Shadow.

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