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] It had been planned to be operational in 2025.[10] However, in November 2021, Defence Procurement Minister Jeremy Quin told the House of Commons Select Defence Committee that full operating capability for SPEAR-3 on F-35 might not occur until 2028.[11]

SPEAR3
TypeAir-to-surface missile
Electronic warfare system
Anti-ship missile
Place of originUnited Kingdom
Service history
Used bySee Users
Production history
DesignerMBDA UK
ManufacturerMBDA UK
Specifications
Mass220 lb (100 kg)[1][2]
Length71 in (1,800 mm)
Diameter7.1 in (180 mm)
Maximum firing range130 km
EngineTurbojet engine[3]
Operational
range
80 mi (130 km)[4][5][6] or 140km [7]
Guidance
system
Millimeter wave Active radar homing / Semi-active laser guidance / Infrared homing (using an uncooled imaging infrared camera) / GPS coupled Inertial guidance / Data-link
Steering
system
Flight control surfaces
Launch
platform
Typhoon (in progress)
F-35B (contracted)

Background
Main article: Brimstone (missile)

MBDA UK was awarded an Assessment Phase contract for SPEAR 3, a standoff attack weapon.[12] This is specified to have a range of at least 100 km, although current figures for SPEAR indicate a range over 130 km (80+mi).[13][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,[14] and will feature a multimode seeker with INS/GPS guidance and datalink.[14] The assessment phase concluded with flight trials in 2014[14] on the Eurofighter Typhoon.[15] The missile is set to use the same Hamilton Sundstrand TJ-150 turbojet as the JSOW-ER.[13][N 2] MBDA has shown artwork of a three-missile launcher on a single Typhoon weapon station,[14] and four will fit with a Meteor air-to-air missile in each internal weapons bay of the F-35B.[14][16] In May 2016, the MOD awarded a £411 million contract to MBDA for the development of the air-launched SPEAR 3 missile.[17] SPEAR 3 will be integrated with the F-35 Block 4 software package and is also planned to be used on the Eurofighter Typhoon.[18]

SPEAR-EW Electronic Warfare missile
A triplet of SPEAR 3 missiles

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.[19]

SPEAR EW

MBDA is also proposing a SPEAR Electronic Warfare version (SPEAR EW), a SEAD attack version for the RAF.[20][21] Networked swarm capability for SPEAR missiles is in development.[22]

Operators

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. "SPEAR datasheet" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 August 2020.
  2. "SPEAR - MBDA". Archived from the original on 13 August 2020.
  3. "High Performance Propulsion for Tactical Missiles and UAV's" (PDF). Whitney AeroPower. 19 May 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 July 2016.
  4. "UK MoD funds further development of Spear 3 missile". Flight Global. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020.
  5. "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.
  6. "No UK Spear Cap 3 Decision on F-35 until 2018". Defense News. 28 May 2015. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020.
  7. "SPEAR3 — FLEXIBILITY AND AN ALMIGHTY PUNCH". Eurofighter Typhoon. Archived from the original on 21 February 2019.
  8. "£411m invested in F-35s new anti-ship/tank/building mini-cruise missile". Navy News. Archived from the original on 19 May 2016.
  9. "Aimpoint selection: the UK's SPEAR Cap 3 air-to-surface weapon" (PDF). IHS Janes. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2015.
  10. The British pick MBDA’s Spear 3 cruise missile for their F-35s. Defense News. 6 January 2021.
  11. "Royal Navy rows back on plans to acquire new anti-ship missiles before 2030s | Navy Lookout". 4 November 2021.
  12. "UK Study Contract Awarded to integrate Brimstone 2 onto Typhoon". Bae Systems. 29 March 2010. Archived from the original on 11 June 2016.
  13. Administrator. "MBDA SPEAR 3 missile would bring true anti-ship capabilities to RAF and FAA F-35s". Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  14. 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.
  15. "House of Commons Written Answers Hansard". UK Parliament. 21 May 2013.
  16. "MBDA MISSILE CAPABILITIES F-35 LIGHTNING II" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 August 2020.
  17. "£411 million investment in new missile for UK's new jets sustains 700 UK jobs". UK Ministry of Defence. 18 March 2016.
  18. "Storm Shadow dropped from UK's F-35B follow-on integration plan". IHS Janes. Archived from the original on 22 January 2016.
  19. "MBDA SHOWCASES THE SPEAR PRECISION STRIKE MISSILE FOR THE F-35". MBDA. 12 July 2016.
  20. "MBDA working on new SPEAR-EW electronic warfare weapon". MBDA. 11 September 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  21. "SPEAR-EW Network enabled Electronic Warfare Capability" (PDF). Archived from the original on 6 May 2022.
  22. "SPEAR Mini-Cruise Missile Getting An Electronic Warfare Variant To Swarm With Is A Huge Deal - The Drive". 12 September 2019.
  23. "WDS 2022: MBDA, SAMI sign agreement on missile maintenance". Janes Information Services. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2023.

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