MBDA waits on German Meteor contract

MBDA is firing up its efforts to supply Germany with Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles, with the nation being the only one of six programme partners yet to sign a production contract. To arm Eurofighter combat aircraft for Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, plus the Dassault Rafale for France and Sweden's Saab Gripen from later this decade, Meteor is intended to be a European successor to Raytheon's AIM-120 AMRAAM. Earlier this year, MBDA announced completion of development work on the new air superiority weapon, with first production deliveries to be made to the UK late this year. With a contract signature with Berlin expected before year-end, MBDA will be talking up the design's performance during a successful development and test campaign led by the UK. A key element of the Meteor is its scramjet engine, which was developed by Germany's Bayern-Chemie. MBDA's outside exhibit is dominated by a launcher for the MEADS air defence system, for which development activities will conclude in 2014. learn more