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)
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)
JAS39 Gripen (in progress)

The Select Precision Effects At Range (SPEAR) Capability 3, or simply referred to as SPEAR 3 is a future British air-to-ground and possibly anti-ship cruise missile that could also be considered a loitering munition.[8][9] It is currently planned to be integrated on the Eurofighter Typhoon, F-35B Lightning and possibly Tempest.[10][11]

SPEAR 3 had been planned to be operational in 2025.[12] 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.[13]

A SPEAR-EW (Electronic Warfare) variant, similar in capabilities to the ADM-160 MALD, has also been fast-tracked into development.[14]

Background

The Select Precision Effects At Range (SPEAR) program is a portfolio of guided munitions being procured by the Royal Air Force across five different capability programs each incrementally increasing in weapon range and from tactical to strategic roles.[15] The SPEAR capability 3 was to be an 100 kg class weapon that would sit between the updated capabilities of Brimstone (SPEAR 2) and Storm Shadow (SPEAR 4) to provide a high-sortie-capacity standoff weapon.[15]

A number of suppliers offered products to meet the program requirements. In 2008, Lockheed Martin offered the Surveilling Miniature Attack Cruise Missile (SMACM) which was not taken forward. In the 2010s, Raytheon (Now RTX) offered the SDB-II (GBU-53) unpowered glide bomb including the possibility licensed production at their UK facilities.[15] Meanwhile MBDA UK offered a new missile design utilising existing developments in weapons technologies such as for Brimstone to produce a miniature cruise missile which was then taken forward with an assessment phase contract offered in the 2010s.[15][16] In 2015, Raytheon considered developing a powered SDB-II variant with a turbojet, or alternatively, developing a weaponised variant of the ADM-160 MALD (Miniature Air-Launched Decoy) with both options as likely counters to MBDA's competing powered-weapon design.[17]

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.[11] In May 2016, MBDA's bid for SPEAR Cap 3 program was fully solidified when the MoD awarded them a £411 million contract for the development of their air-launched SPEAR missile.[18]

In July 2023, Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) data revealed that the Delivery Confidence Assessment had been downgraded from Amber to Red primarily resulting from " “...challenges with resourcing sufficient suitably qualified and experienced people across the programme and delivery teams, and within industry”.[19]

Characteristics

SPEAR 3 weighs less than 90 kg (198.4 lbs) with a length of 1.8m (70.8 in) and a diameter of 180mm (7.08 in).[20] The missile will feature a multimode seeker with INS/GPS guidance and datalink.[21] The missile is set to use the same Hamilton Sundstrand TJ-150 turbojet as the JSOW-ER and MALD combined with a folding wing kit, providing an engagement range in excess of 140 km (86.9 mi).[22][20] The fusing options and warhead are likely to be similar to that of 14 lb warhead of Brimstone.

SPEAR 3 will be integrated with the F-35 Lightning's Block 4 software package and on the Eurofighter Typhoon around the mid-to-late 2020s.[23] Mock-ups for the UK's future sixth-generation fighter 'Tempest' being developed under the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) with Japan and Italy have been shown with SPEAR 3 as part of the aircraft's possible future arsenal alongside the Future Cruise/Anti Ship Weapon(s) (FC/ASW).[10][24] MBDA has shown artwork of a three-missile launcher on a single Typhoon weapon station,[21] and four will fit with a Meteor air-to-air missile in each of the two internal weapons bays of the F-35B when in an air-to-surface configuration.[21][25] No images have yet been revealed of any external SPEAR 3 carriage capability for the F-35B with all current renderings and models showing only internally mounted weapons.

Networked swarm capability for SPEAR missiles is in development.[26] In 2023, MBDA announced that SPEAR 3 would be integrated into ORCHESTRIKE, MBDA's collaborative effector system utilising AI to allow multiple smart munitions to work in concert with one another.[27][28]

SPEAR-EW Electronic Warfare missile
A triplet of SPEAR 3 missiles for the Eurofighter Typhoon. The missiles are carried inverted before dropping, flipping, and accelerating towards their target.

SPEAR-EW

MBDA also proposed and was later awarded a technical demonstrator program contract for a SPEAR Electronic Warfare (SPEAR-EW) variant, a SEAD attack version for the RAF.[29][30][15][31] The fuel capacity would be enlarged and the warhead and seeker removed to accommodate an electronic warfare payload derived from Leonardo UK's BRITECLOUD countermeasure allowing SPEAR-EW to loiter in contested airspace and act as a stand-in jammer or in a decoy role similar to the ADM-160 MALD.[15][26][28][32] The UK had previously shown interest in the capabilities of MALD back in 2009 at the Paris Air Show.[33]

In September 2023, MBDA was awarded additional funds to fast-track the development of SPEAR-EW from the Ministry of Defence.[14] This suggests that the UK is looking to field SPEAR-EW operationally alongside SPEAR 3, although this has not be officially confirmed.

Conceptualised variants

Concepts have also been shown for additional missile variants such as SPEAR Glide, an unpowered variant without the TJ-150 turbojet making it more analogous to the GBU-53; sacrificing speed, range and manoeuvrability for a larger warhead and possibly lower cost whilst still be able to be carried on the same weapon rail as other SPEAR variants by retaining the common airframe.[15][31] Another concept has been for a surface launched variant called the Common Anti-Surface Modular Missile (CAsMM) that could be quad-packed into the Mark 41 / Mark 57 or similar vertical launcher systems (Sylver) by utilising the same Extensible Launching System (EXLS) munitions adapter as the Common Anti-Air Modular Missile (CAMM) family.[15]

Operators

Future operators

 United Kingdom

 Saudi Arabia

Potential operators

 Germany

  • German Air Force - Germany has reportedly shown interest in SPEAR to equip their Eurofighter Typhoons.[35]

 Italy

 South Korea

  • Republic of Korea Air Force - On 20 November 2023, MBDA and Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) formalised an agreement to improve collaboration of weapons integration on to the KAI KF-21 Boramae and KAI T-50 Golden Eagle. As part of this agreement, both parties are also exploring the integration of additional weapons, including SPEAR 3, onto both platforms as well as joint export.[36]

Similar weapons

See also

References

    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. 1 2 "Tempest". Royal Air Force. 5 October 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
    11. 1 2 "MBDA SHOWCASES THE SPEAR PRECISION STRIKE MISSILE FOR THE F-35". MBDA. 12 July 2016.
    12. ↑ The British pick MBDA’s Spear 3 cruise missile for their F-35s. Defense News. 6 January 2021.
    13. 1 2 "Royal Navy rows back on plans to acquire new anti-ship missiles before 2030s | Navy Lookout". 4 November 2021.
    14. 1 2 Allison, George (12 September 2023). "UK boosts funding for SPEAR-EW jammer development – DSEI23". Retrieved 3 October 2023.
    15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "SPEAR Missile - Think Defence". www.thinkdefence.co.uk. 6 November 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
    16. ↑ "UK Study Contract Awarded to integrate Brimstone 2 onto Typhoon". Bae Systems. 29 March 2010. Archived from the original on 11 June 2016.
    17. ↑ Chuter, Andrew (15 June 2015). "Raytheon Considers Powered SDB for UK F-35s". Defense News. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
    18. ↑ "£411 million investment in new missile for UK's new jets sustains 700 UK jobs". UK Ministry of Defence. 18 March 2016.
    19. ↑ Allison, George (23 July 2023). "F-35 Spear Cap 3 missile project 'facing challenges'". Retrieved 3 October 2023.
    20. 1 2 "£550m F-35 missile contract signed". RAF. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
    21. 1 2 3 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.
    22. ↑ Administrator. "MBDA SPEAR 3 missile would bring true anti-ship capabilities to RAF and FAA F-35s". Retrieved 23 July 2016.
    23. ↑ "Storm Shadow dropped from UK's F-35B follow-on integration plan". IHS Janes. Archived from the original on 22 January 2016.
    24. ↑ Stevenson, Beth (16 July 2018). "Britain reveals combat air strategy alongside new Tempest fighter jet design". Defense News. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    25. ↑ "MBDA MISSILE CAPABILITIES F-35 LIGHTNING II" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 August 2020.
    26. 1 2 "SPEAR Mini-Cruise Missile Getting An Electronic Warfare Variant To Swarm With Is A Huge Deal - The Drive". 12 September 2019.
    27. ↑ "Paris Air Show: MBDA aims to overcome complex air defence challenges with Orchestrike | Shephard". www.shephardmedia.com. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
    28. 1 2 [DSEI23] SPEAR-EW: Advancing Electronic Warfare to the Next Stage, retrieved 3 October 2023
    29. ↑ "MBDA working on new SPEAR-EW electronic warfare weapon". MBDA. 11 September 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
    30. ↑ "SPEAR-EW Network enabled Electronic Warfare Capability" (PDF). Archived from the original on 6 May 2022.
    31. 1 2 "MBDA discloses development of SPEAR variants". Janes.com. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
    32. ↑ "SPEAR-EW | Air Dominance, TACTICAL STRIKE". MBDA. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
    33. ↑ Hoyle, Craig (16 June 2009). "PARIS AIR SHOW: Raytheon advances MALD-J, as UK eyes derivative". Flight Global. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
    34. ↑ "WDS 2022: MBDA, SAMI sign agreement on missile maintenance". Janes Information Services. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
    35. 1 2 Chuter, Andrew (6 January 2021). "The British pick MBDA's Spear 3 cruise missile for their F-35s". Defense News. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
    36. ↑ Allison, George (12 December 2023). "MBDA and KAI working together for weapon integration". Retrieved 13 December 2023.

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