Saab, a Swedish defence technology company, announced the completion of the first test firing of the Meteor Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) on Gripen E, with a "successful end-to-end result on the target."
Meteor was launched from Gripen E at approximately 16500 feet above the Vidsel test range in northern Sweden. The trial is the latest in a series of tests conducted by Saab as the Gripen E approaches military-type certification (MTC) in air-to-air operations.
The Gripen E and its two-seater Gripen F have been completed, and serial production of airframes for Brazil and Sweden has begun. Brazil has ordered 28 new Gripen fighters, while Sweden ordered 60 in 2013. In collaboration with prime contractor MBDA UK, Saab is a partner in the Meteor program.
The Meteor program is one of Europe"s defence collaborations, with the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Sweden working together to develop an air combat missile. The 180-kg Meteor is a ramjet missile capable of reaching speeds of around Mach 4 and hitting targets over 100 kilometres away. Meteor can engage various targets, from fighter jets to small UAVs and cruise missiles. MBDA is the prime contractor on an international project to build the missile.
