Germany has test-fired the MBDA Meteor long-range air-to-air missile from a Luftwaffe Eurofighter for the first time.
The test took place at a British military facility in Scotland, as no German facility could accommodate the required testing range.
Germany’s Eurofighters are currently equipped with the short-range IRIS-T heat-seeking missile and the medium-range AMRAAM. To enhance the aircraft’s combat capabilities, the integration of the Meteor will boost the aircraft’s capacity to neutralize threats at extended distances.
The guided missile “contributes immensely to the Eurofighter’s standing as a weapon system,” the German Air Force stated.
“This means we can protect ourselves better because targets can be attacked from a great distance and cannot get so close to us. Meteor is therefore also a great asset in terms of deterrence.”
The Meteor
Weighing 190 kilograms (418 pounds) and measuring 3.7 meters (12.1 feet) with a diameter of 178 millimeters (7 inches), the Meteor missile has a range of up to 200 kilometers (124 miles).
The system is guided by an advanced active radar seeker for targeting a diverse range of threats, including agile fighter jets, small unmanned aerial vehicles, and cruise missiles.
Developed collaboratively by the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, and Sweden, the Meteor equips a range of advanced fighter aircraft across NATO and allied air forces, such as the Rafale, the Gripen, and the F-35 Lightning II.
New Testing Site
The first Meteor firing came as Germany is preparing for another medium-term goal for its Eurofighter aircraft: establishing a new testing and development facility in Manching, located in the south of the country.
Involving personnel from the air force and the German Armed Forces Technical Center for Aircraft and Aviation Equipment, Berlin aims to integrate new features and adjustments for its Eurofighter fleet over the next year.
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