Saab has recently conducted the first test firing of the Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile from a Gripen E fighter jet.
The Meteor missile was launched from Gripen E at an altitude of approximately 16500 ft above the Vidsel test range in northern Sweden.
Mikael Olsson, head of flight test and verification, Saab said, “It feels very good that we have now completed the first test firing with Meteor from Gripen E. It is a very important milestone both for the program and for Saab. It shows that the weapon capability of Gripen is at the absolute forefront.”
Meteor from MBDA is a beyond visual range air-to-air missile that can operate in in contested environments. The missile is able to engage a wide variety of targets, from fighter aircraft to small unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles at long ranges.
Jim Price, MBDA’s vice president in Europe said, “This success is a great demonstration of the close partnership between MBDA and Saab, which after many years of active co-operation continues to go from strength to strength. This trial also excellently shows off our joint ability to rapidly integrate weapon capabilities onto the all new Gripen E.”
The next steps of the flight test program for the Gripen E is on continued development and testing of primarily the tactical systems and as well as integration of a variation of weapons such as the Meteor missile, said Saab.
Saab is a partner in the Meteor program in conjunction with prime contractor MBDA UK.
