Meteor missile launched safely from F-35B for the first time

The F-35B fighter jet has passed an important threshold in Meteor missile integration. MBDA-produced beyond-visual air-to-air missile was safely released from the aircraft's internal weapon station for the first time in the test conducted in the USA. Thus, the program has left a critical stage behind.

The test was conducted on October 7. Additionally, this flight was the first step in a series of drop tests in the F-35 Meteor integration program. The post shared by MBDA is as follows:

https://x.com/MBDA_UK/status/2118345671925288980

What Does the F-35B Safe Release Test Confirm?

These tests measure how cleanly the ordnance leaves the aircraft. For example, how the missile behaves under normal mission conditions or during emergency mission cancellation is examined. Therefore, the missile must separate without contacting the fuselage or wing surfaces.

Beyond visual means that the target is at a distance where it cannot be seen by the pilot's eyes. Meteor is also an air-to-air missile in this class. So this release from the F-35B's internal weapons station revealed what separation behavior looks like in real flight.

At the same time, the aerodynamic balance and flight dynamics of the aircraft should not be disrupted. Because the air flow inside the weapon station is quite complex. Therefore, the data from the test is important.

The flight also provided telemetry data. This data will be used to update and validate digital prediction models that simulate the separation characteristic.

Who Performed the Test?

A team consisting of personnel from the UK Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Lockheed Martin prepared and loaded the missile. This team is called the UK/US Integrated Test Force (F-35 ITF). A Royal Navy test pilot from the Air and Space Warfare Center flew the test sortie.

Staff from three different institutions jointly undertook the preparation and loading work. This distribution shows that the work is carried out with a joint effort.

The program is carried out in multinational cooperation. The UK, US and Italian defense ministries, as well as Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, MBDA and Northrop Grumman, are taking part in the study.

What Tests Are Next in F-35B Integration?

In the coming months, Meteor will be tested across the F-35's entire operational flight envelope. Therefore, additional drop tests will be conducted in different flight and altitude profiles. The aim is to verify safe separation under all conditions.

However, these tests in the development phase will be completed with live shooting. These shots will verify both safe separation and engine firing performance under different separation conditions.

Moreover, this first safe drop with the F-35B provided data for subsequent tests. Since the Meteor integration is in development, each test determines the next step.

Progress in integration aims to contribute to the air capabilities of the United Kingdom and Italy, which are F-35 users. In addition, the F-35B platform is intended to increase air-air ammunition diversity and deterrence. The next step will be additional drop tests on different profiles followed by live firing.