F-35 / JSF is a very important platform from a global point of view as the next generation fighter, and MBDA believe its weapons capability complements the platform in the worldwide market offering increased choice to current and future JSF customers.

ASRAAM integration is under contract, Storm Shadow, Dual Mode Brimstone (SPEAR Capability 2), SPEAR Capability 3 and METEOR are part of a portfolio of potential weapons currently under consideration for integration to the F35.

MBDA has witnessed increasing interest in its weapons among F-35 Customers worldwide – MBDA weapons are already in JSF Partners’ inventories on other platforms (e.g. ASRAAM – Australia, Storm Shadow – Italy)

The benefits of MBDA weapons on F-35 include:

• Increased choice and flexibility

• World-class weapon capability

• Underpins ‘Operational Sovereignty’

• Industrial participation

For UK and Italy, there are Logistical & Financial benefits of having common weapons fits across Eurofighter Typhoon and JSF, and this also minimises the number of weapon types in the inventory

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter

• METEOR – Next generation Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile

- Being developed by 6 European nations including UK, Italy and Spain (to replace their AMRAAMs).
- In production from 2012.
- Meteor’s ramjet motor gives significant increase in kinematic capability over legacy ‘boost/coast’ weapons, with multiple times the “no escape zone” of current MRAAMs: Ramjet motor gives high energy at end-game to defeat the target’s defensive manoeuvres.
- Network enabled’ with data-link.
- A cropped-fin Meteor concept has been derived by MBDA to enhance the potential for integration into the F-35 bay.
- A feasibility study into F-35 integration has been commissioned by UK MOD and will report around the end of the year.

Meteor

• ASRAAM – Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile

- Block 3 SDD integration within the bomb bay (Stn 5 and 7) and on wing-tip stations: Only IR missile going in the bay today.
- Integration is being undertaken by LM Aero, BAE SYSTEMS and MBDA.
- In service with RAF and RAAF (latter on F/A-18).
- Large rocket motor gives high kinematic performance - high speed and extended range, with enhanced end-game performance compared with other in-service IR missiles.
- Lock-on-Before and Lock-after-Launch capability.
- Over shoulder firing successfully carried out by RAAF.

Meteor and ASRAAM missile on MBDA stand during Paris Air Show

• SPEAR Capability 2 / DUAL MODE BRIMSTONE – Air-to-Surface precision strike weapon

- DUAL MODE BRIMSTONE is a threshold weapon in JSF ORD.
- In service with Royal Air Force on Tornado GR4.
- Now being used operationally in Afghanistan and Libya:
- Small, lightweight
- Laser only + Laser and mmW modes – cockpit selectable
- Low collateral damage
- No GPS thus robust in jamming environment
- Wide target set - precision ground attack including moving targets, anti-armour and anti-small ship

Dual Mode Brimstone

• SPEAR Capability 3 (Selectable Precision Effects at Range)

- UK requirement for a new weapon to attack mobile/relocatable targets at medium stand-off range.
- 100kg class; powered with data link; multiple weapons per bay
- Being specifically designed by MBDA for internal JSF carriage requirement.

• STORM SHADOW – Long Range Deep Strike Cruise Missile

- Threshold weapon in JSF ORD.
- Largest weapon planned for F-35 (3000lb store).
- In Service with several Nations including UK and Italy.
- Long-range, hard target capability - successfully employed on combat operations during OIF/TELIC.
- Compatible with F-35 for carrier-based operations (UK CVF).
- Key capabilities:
- Precision
- Hard target penetration
- Long stand-off range
- Carrier compatible
- Survivable
- Not GPS dependent

Storm Shadow