RAF and Royal Navy pilots will benefit from a cutting-edge new cruise missile, following the first successful guided firing trial of the SPEAR missile.
SPEAR, which is a next generation turbojet-powered miniature cruise missile, successfully completed the trial after being fired from a BAE Systems-operated Typhoon jet at Vidsel range in Sweden. This most recent trial was the first time the weapons system had been launched from an aircraft, signifying a major leap forward in the programmes development.
Each missile can hit targets from 100km away and is designed to be used against mobile, relocatable, defended, or challenging targets. Once in service it will be fitted to Britain’s F-35B Lightning stealth fighter jets and allow the military to strike targets both from land and Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.
The successful trial of the pioneering SPEAR missile marks a significant leap forward in UK Armed Forces' capabilities, ensuring our Royal Navy and Royal Air Force personnel are equipped with cutting-edge technology to protect our nation. This achievement not only strengthens national defence capabilities but also boosts the UK economy, by supporting high-skilled jobs and innovation.
Maria Eagle
Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry
Developed in the UK by MBDA, work on the cutting-edge new SPEAR missile supports several hundred jobs among MBDA’s 5,500-strong UK workforce, with design work mainly in Stevenage and Bristol and manufacturing in Bolton.
Lightnings will be able to carry up to eight SPEAR missiles at a time, providing the next generation of long-range air-to-surface missiles. This guided firing trial marks a critical milestone in the development of the SPEAR programme, providing the next generation of stand-off air-to-surface missiles for Suppression of Enemy Air Defences missions in challenging and complex operating environments.
SPEAR autonomously navigates to the target via customisable routes using its advanced all-weather radar seeker to map the target area and radio-frequency imagery to successfully engage it.
The trial itself, which did not carry a live warhead, demonstrated the release, gather and long-range free-flight control of the missile following a high-altitude and high-speed release.
SPEAR is part of a wider portfolio which supports £6.5 billion of planned investment in the UK weapons industry by the MOD over the next decade - which includes other missile programmes such as Brimstone, CAMM, Sea Viper, Sea Venom, and Storm Shadow; putting the UK at the forefront of cutting edge of future weapons development.
This guided firing represents a major step in the capability development of the SPEAR programme and is the first in a campaign of firings to demonstrate the missile’s capabilities. The success of this test is a testament to the hard work and collaborative efforts of our industry partners at MBDA and BAE Systems, as well as MOD personnel across multiple teams. We look forward to continuing this momentum as we advance our domestic capabilities and strengthen our commitments to our allies.
Dean Pask
MOD’s Senior Responsible Owner for SPEAR
The SPEAR programme is being managed by Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), the Ministry of Defence procurement executive agency. A joint MOD and industry team conducted this first in a series of SPEAR guided flight trials.
This trial was a key step on the way to delivering SPEAR to the UK frontline, where it will provide a new capability to defeat the most complex air defence systems, enabling pilots to fly and fight wherever they’re needed in defence of the UK and its allies.
Matthew Brown
SPEAR Team Leader at DE&S
