MBDA has received a new contract to supply additional Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles for the German Armed Forces, the company announced on January 21, 2026.
The order was placed through the Meteor Integrated Joint Programme Office (IJPO) on behalf of Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw), continuing Germany’s participation as one of the missile’s development partners. MBDA did not disclose the contract value, quantities, or delivery timeline.
Meteor is a six-nation European program
MBDA describes Meteor as the product of a collaborative European consortium led by the company, with Germany, the UK, France, Italy, Spain, and Sweden participating. The program is often cited as a flagship example of multinational cooperation, bringing together industrial workshares and common requirements into a shared air-combat weapon fielded across multiple European fighter fleets.
In MBDA’s announcement, CEO Eric Béranger framed the latest German order as continued confidence in a program that unites “cutting-edge technologies” from the six partner nations and supports air dominance missions and national airspace sovereignty.
What Meteor is, and what it is designed to do
Meteor is a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM), designed for long-range engagements against maneuvering targets. A key differentiator is its ramjet-based propulsion, described by MBDA as a solid-fuel, variable-flow ducted rocket, produced in Germany by MBDA subsidiary Bayern-Chemie. According to MBDA, this propulsion provides thrust all the way to intercept, contributing to a larger ‘no escape zone’ than many other air-to-air missiles, meaning the target has less room to evade once the engagement unfolds.
Meteor is described as having a range of over 150 kilometers (90 miles) and being capable of reaching Mach 4.
Platforms and recent program activity
MBDA notes that multiple combat air platforms around the world are equipped with Meteor, including the Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale, Saab Gripen, and South Korea’s KF-21 Boramae.
The company also highlighted ongoing integration work on the F-35. MBDA said Meteor achieved a first flight on the F-35B in 2025, with ground testing completed ahead of a first flight on the F-35A. Test momentum has also continued among Meteor operators, with the Brazilian Air Force confirming a successful Meteor test firing from its F-39E Gripen E fighters in November 2025.
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