Known as SPEAR3, the next-generation missile can travel
long distances at high-subsonic speed and over the next
decade will become the F-35’s primary air-to-ground weapon.
At 1.8 metres long, the missile system has a range of more
than 140-kilometres and, powered by a turbojet engine, can
operate across land and sea, day or night, to overpower
enemy air defence systems, while the pilot and aircraft
remains a safe distance away.
Its ability to attack moving targets will enhance the UK’s
future combat air capability and provide immense lethal
capability to the Queen Elizabeth class carrier strike
group.
Defence Minister said:
“The development of this next-generation missile will allow
us to protect our personnel and assets on the ground, from
thousands of metres in the sky above.”
“Our commitment to this system will secure hundreds of
highly skilled jobs across the UK and showcase British
technology and weapon expertise on the world stage.”
Following a successful development phase, the new
seven-year demonstration and manufacture contract with MBDA
will support more than 700 UK jobs, including the creation
of 190 highly skilled technology jobs in system design,
guidance control and navigation and software engineering.
At the peak of the contract, 570 people will work on
various aspects of the system’s development in Bristol,
Stevenage and Bolton. Another 200 jobs are expected to be
sustained along the supply chain that includes L3/Harris,
Roband, Collins, EPS and MSB.
Colonel Martin French, DE&S’ Lightweight and Medium
Attack Systems (LMAS) team leader, said:
“The placement of this contract marks the next major stage
of the SPEAR3 weapon system’s development and is a result
of months of detailed negotiations between MBDA and the
LMAS project team.
“Building on the successes and technology achievements of
the previous four years’ work with MBDA, we now enter the
exciting and challenging demonstration phase where we start
to prove the system against the UK’s requirements and ramp
up activities to integrate this highly-capable weapon
system onto the F-35B aircraft.”
With its unique combination of stealth, cutting-edge radar,
sensor technology, and armed with SPEAR3, the F-35 will
protect aircraft carriers from enemy ships, submarines,
aircraft and missiles.
The UK currently has 21 fifth-generation F-35Bs, having
received three new jets on 30 November. The platform’s
Initial Operating Capability (Maritime) was recently
declared and, later this year, F-35 jets will sail with HMS
Queen Elizabeth on her maiden Global Carrier Strike Group
‘21 deployment.
The initial demonstration phase will assess the weapon
system against the UK military’s requirement through,
testing, simulation and trials, which will include
controlled firings from a Typhoon aircraft.
The contract forms part of the Complex Weapons portfolio
with MBDA, which is on track to deliver £1.2 billion saving
to UK defence. It also allows the MOD and MBDA to maximise
the export potential of complex weapons, including the
first-in-class SPEAR3, which supports UK prosperity and the
international agenda.
