Meteor is a radar-guided Beyond visual range air-to-ait missile (BVRAAM). The Meteor missile is manufactured by MBDA. It is one of the most competent missiles in the world, capable to engage highly manoeuvrable targets including jets and UAVs. The Meteor can be integrated with F-35s, Jas-39 Gripens, Rafales and Eurofighter Typhoon.
In 2016, Sweden became the first nation to take Meteor into service. Today Meteor is operative in several Air Forces. Within the Swedish Airforce Meteor is called Rb101.
Seeker of the Meteor
The Meteor has an active radar homing seeker meaning it can track and engage its target autonomously.
Warhead of the missile
The Meteor missile is equipped with a blast-fragmentation warhead, supplied by TDW of Germany.
Range of Meteor missile
The range of the meteor missile is estimated to be over 100 kilometres and has a no-escape zone of close to 60 kms.
Speed
The maximum of the missile is over 4 Mach, which means more than four times the speed of sound.
Control Surfaces
The missile has four rear-mounted fins that control its trajectory and make it agile and have high turn rates.
Sensors
Meteor BVRAAM is equipped with a two-way datalink, which allows the launch platform to provide updates on targets or re-targeting when the missile is in flight. The data link is capable of transmitting information such as kinematic status. It also notifies target acquisition by the seeker.
The missile system is installed with an active radar target seeker, offering high reliability in detection, tracking and classification of targets. A jamming-resistant radar proximity fuze (from Saab) and lethal high-explosive blast-fragmentation warhead combine for a high kill probability against a wide variety of target types. The proximity fuse is designed to detect the target and compute the optimum time to detonate the warhead for maximum impact.
Propulsion
The Meteor missile has a ramjet propulsion system which helps it to maintain high speeds.
Meteor has optimal thrust and is capable of destroying fast-moving targets at long range. This creates supreme stand-off ranges and the ability to chase and destroy highly agile moving targets.
Countries operating the Meteor Missile
France - French Air Force, French Navy
India - Indian Air Force
Italy - Italian Air Force
Spain - Spanish Air Force
Sweden - Swedish Air Force
United Kingdom - Royal Air Force
Germany - German Air Force
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