SPEAR 3

SPEAR 3
Type Air-to-surface missile
Place of origin United Kingdom
Service history
Used by Royal Air Force
Production history
Manufacturer MBDA (UK) Ltd, Henlow
Specifications
Weight < 220 lb (100 kg)
Length 71 in (1,800 mm)
Diameter 7.1 in (180 mm)
Engine Turbojet engine[1]
Operational
range
 60 mi (97 km) [2][3][4]
Steering
system
 Flight control surfaces
Launch
platform
 Typhoon (planned)
F-35B (planned)

The Select Precision Effects At Range (SPEAR) Capability 3 is a future British air-to-ground, possibly anti-tank, anti-structure, and anti-ship missile.[5][6]

Background

Main article: Brimstone (missile)

MBDA was awarded an Assessment Phase contract for SPEAR 3, a standoff attack weapon that would replace Brimstone 2 (SPEAR Cap 2).[7] This is specified to have a range of at least 100 km, however the UK MoD and MBDA believe that they can achieve over 120 km (62+nm).[8][N 1] The weapon will make substantial reuse of Brimstone modules. The 2 m (6.6 ft) weapon will fly at high-subsonic speed using a turbojet and wing kit,[9] and will feature a multimode seeker with INS/GPS guidance and datalink.[9] The assessment phase concluded with flight trials in 2014[9] on Typhoon.[10] The missile is set to use the same Hamilton Sundstrand TJ-150 turbojet as the JSOW-ER.[8][N 2] MBDA has shown artwork of a four-missile launcher on a single Typhoon weapon station,[9] and four will fit with a Meteor air-to-air missile in each internal weapons bay of the F-35B.[9] In May 2016, the MOD awarded a £411 million contract to MBDA for the development of the air-launched SPEAR 3 missile specifically for the UK's F-35B fighters.[11] SPEAR 3 however, will only be integrated on the Block 4 software package of the F-35B.[12]

Trials

In March 2016, a SPEAR trials missile was launched from a Eurofighter Typhoon trials aircraft operated by BAE Systems at the QinetiQ Aberporth range in Wales. The missile transitioned through separation from the Typhoon aircraft to powered flight before completing a series of manoeuvres, ending in a terminal dive to the desired point of impact. The missile accurately followed the planned trajectory and was well within simulation predictions; all trial objectives were achieved.[13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The UK MOD and MBDA believe they can achieve north of 62 nautical miles for SPEAR." - Navy Recognition July 2014
  2. ↑ "SPEAR 3 has two small side intakes for its Hamilton Sundstrand TJ-150 turbojet." - Navy Recognition July 2014
  1. ↑ "High Performance Propulsion for Tactical Missiles and UAV's" (PDF). Whitney AeroPower. 19 May 2016.
  2. ↑ "UK MoD funds further development of Spear 3 missile". Flight Global. 18 May 2016.
  3. ↑ "MBDA SPEAR 3 missile would bring true anti-ship capabilities to RAF and FAA F-35s". Naval Recognition. 22 July 2014.
  4. ↑ "No UK Spear Cap 3 Decision on F-35 until 2018". Defense News. 28 May 2015.
  5. ↑ "£411m invested in F-35s new anti-ship/tank/building mini-cruise missile". Navy News. 19 May 2016.
  6. ↑ "Aimpoint selection: the UK's SPEAR Cap 3 air-to-surface weapon" (PDF). IHS Janes. 19 May 2016.
  7. ↑ "UK Study Contract Awarded to integrate Brimstone 2 onto Typhoon". Bae Systems. 29 March 2010. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  8. 1 2 Administrator. "MBDA SPEAR 3 missile would bring true anti-ship capabilities to RAF and FAA F-35s". Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Hoyle, Craig (27 June 2012). "PICTURES: MBDA sharpens Spear missile design for F-35 integration". Flight International.
  10. ↑ "House of Commons Written Answers Hansard". UK Parliament. 21 May 2013.
  11. ↑ "£411 million investment in new missile for UK's new jets sustains 700 UK jobs". UK Ministry of Defence. 18 March 2016.
  12. ↑ "Storm Shadow dropped from UK's F-35B follow-on integration plan". IHS Janes. 20 May 2016.
  13. ↑ "MBDA SHOWCASES THE SPEAR PRECISION STRIKE MISSILE FOR THE F-35". MBDA. 12 July 2016.
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