SPEAR 3
The Select Precision Effects At Range (SPEAR) Capability 3 is a future British air-to-ground and possibly anti-ship missile.[8][9]
SPEAR3 | |
---|---|
A triplet of SPEAR 3 missiles | |
Type | Air-to-surface missile Electronic warfare system Anti-ship missile |
Place of origin | United Kingdom |
Service history | |
Used by | See Users |
Production history | |
Designer | MBDA Leonardo S.p.A. |
Manufacturer | MBDA (UK) Ltd, Henlow |
Variants | See Variants |
Specifications | |
Mass | < 220 lb (100 kg)[1][2] |
Length | = 71 in (1,800 mm) |
Diameter | = 7.1 in (180 mm) |
Maximum firing range | 130 km |
Engine | Turbojet engine[3] |
Operational range | 80 mi (130 km)[4][5][6] or 140km [7] |
Steering system | Flight control surfaces |
Launch platform | Typhoon (planned) F-35B (planned) |
Background
MBDA was awarded an Assessment Phase contract for SPEAR 3, a standoff attack weapon.[10] This is specified to have a range of at least 100 km, although current figures for SPEAR indicate a range over 130 km (80+nm).[N 1] The weapon will make substantial reuse of technologies from the Brimstone precision strike missile that is used for engagements at shorter ranges. The 2 m (6.6 ft) weapon will fly at high-subsonic speed using a turbojet and wing kit,[12] and will feature a multimode seeker with INS/GPS guidance and datalink.[12] The assessment phase concluded with flight trials in 2014[12] on the Eurofighter Typhoon.[13] The missile is set to use the same Hamilton Sundstrand TJ-150 turbojet as the JSOW-ER.[N 2] MBDA has shown artwork of a three-missile launcher on a single Typhoon weapon station,[12] and four will fit with a Meteor air-to-air missile in each internal weapons bay of the F-35B.[12][14] In May 2016, the MOD awarded a £411 million contract to MBDA for the development of the air-launched SPEAR 3 missile.[15] SPEAR 3 will be integrated with the F-35 Block 4 software package and is also planned to be used on the Eurofighter Typhoon.[16]
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 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.[17]
SPEAR EW
MBDA is also proposing a SPEAR Electronic Warfare version (SPEAR EW), a SEAD attack version for the RAF.[18] Networked swarm capability for SPEAR missiles is in development.[19]
References
- "The UK MOD and MBDA believe they can achieve north of 62 nautical miles for SPEAR." - Navy Recognition July 2014
- "SPEAR 3 has two small side intakes for its Hamilton Sundstrand TJ-150 turbojet." - Navy Recognition July 2014
- "SPEAR datasheet" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 August 2020.
- "SPEAR - MBDA". Archived from the original on 13 August 2020.
- "High Performance Propulsion for Tactical Missiles and UAV's" (PDF). Whitney AeroPower. 19 May 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 July 2016.
- "UK MoD funds further development of Spear 3 missile". Flight Global. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020.
- "MBDA SPEAR 3 missile would bring true anti-ship capabilities to RAF and FAA F-35s". Naval Recognition. 22 July 2014. Archived from the original on 29 October 2014.
- "No UK Spear Cap 3 Decision on F-35 until 2018". Defense News. 28 May 2015. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020.
- "SPEAR3 — FLEXIBILITY AND AN ALMIGHTY PUNCH". Eurofighter Typhoon. Archived from the original on 21 February 2019.
- "£411m invested in F-35s new anti-ship/tank/building mini-cruise missile". Navy News. Archived from the original on 19 May 2016.
- "Aimpoint selection: the UK's SPEAR Cap 3 air-to-surface weapon" (PDF). IHS Janes. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2015.
- "UK Study Contract Awarded to integrate Brimstone 2 onto Typhoon". Bae Systems. 29 March 2010. Archived from the original on 11 June 2016.
- Hoyle, Craig (27 June 2012). "PICTURES: MBDA sharpens Spear missile design for F-35 integration". Flight International. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020.
- "House of Commons Written Answers Hansard". UK Parliament. 21 May 2013.
- "MBDA MISSILE CAPABILITIES F-35 LIGHTNING II" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 August 2020.
- "£411 million investment in new missile for UK's new jets sustains 700 UK jobs". UK Ministry of Defence. 18 March 2016.
- "Storm Shadow dropped from UK's F-35B follow-on integration plan". IHS Janes. Archived from the original on 22 January 2016.
- "MBDA SHOWCASES THE SPEAR PRECISION STRIKE MISSILE FOR THE F-35". MBDA. 12 July 2016.
- "MBDA working on new SPEAR-EW electronic warfare weapon". MBDA. 11 September 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
- "SPEAR Mini-Cruise Missile Getting An Electronic Warfare Variant To Swarm With Is A Huge Deal - The Drive".