MBDA’s Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile underwent a successful second test firing from a Saab Gripen trials aircraft over Sweden’s Vidsel test range last week, following steps to fix a fault encountered during the weapon’s 9 May debut.
The most recent test, on 20 June, was conducted from a Gripen flying at an altitude of 23,000ft (7,000m), and saw the successful ignition of the long-range weapon’s booster motor and ramjet sustainer propulsion system. The missile’s flight time of just under 1min was an improvement over the first rail-launched firing, during which the test round encountered “a minor glitch” that prevented the ignition of its motor during the sustain phase, says MBDA. The company adds that the fault was successfully rectified ahead of the test last week.
Additional test firings of the developmental Meteor are due in Sweden before the end of this year, with trials activities expected to continue until around 2010-11 before entry into service after 2012. Saab expects the Gripen to perform around 75% of this trials activity, although the weapon will also equip the Dassault Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon strike fighter. The multinational Meteor project involves the air forces of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the UK.
Source: Flight International
