Article Posted on : - Jun 22, 2011

Air-carriage trials for the MBDA Meteor Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM). Photo: Eurofighter

LONDON (BNS): As part of efforts to integrate the Meteor missile on the Eurofighter Typhoon jets, a series of air-carriage trials have been conducted using the fighter as a platform.

Eurofighter GmbH has conducted a range of air-carriage trials for the MBDA-designed Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) on the Aberporth range, UK.

The first phase of trials, carried out by Eurofighter partner company BAE Systems involving the Instrumented Production Aircraft IPA 1, were aimed at ensuring safe separation of the missile across the flight envelope.

The Meteor missiles, which will be deployed as the primary air-to-air armament on the Eurofighter Typhoon, would provide air superiority against a range of fixed and rotary wing targets including UAVs and cruise missiles.

The introduction of the Meteor missile will ensure that the Typhoon continues as the world’s most advanced swing-role combat aircraft well into the future, keeping ahead of developing air-to-air threats, the European consortium said.

Meteor is a ramjet powered next generation beyond visual range air-to-air missile system (BVRAAM), with the largest No Escape Zone of any air-to-air weapon resulting in a long stand-off range and high kill probability to ensure air superiority and pilot survivability.