Eurofighter Typhoon Tests New SPEAR Cruise Missile

A Eurofighter Typhoon test aircraft from BAE Systems in Warton, U.K., has launched a guided firing of the next-generation MBDA SPEAR cruise missile.

The test was part of trials aimed at advancing the strike capabilities of the U.K. Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Navy.

The missile was fired at the Vidsel test range in Sweden, with BAE Systems' engineers and a test pilot collaborating with a joint U.K. Ministry of Defence (MoD) and industry team to complete the mission. This was the first live firing of the SPEAR missile, a turbojet-powered, miniature cruise missile designed to strike targets from up to 100 km away. The missile is capable of engaging a wide array of threats, including air defenses, ships, tanks, fortified structures, and fast-moving vehicles.

During the test, the missile autonomously navigated toward the target, using its advanced all-weather radar seeker and radio-frequency imagery to engage the target. The trial demonstrated the missile’s long-range flight control, data-gathering capabilities, and the effectiveness of its release mechanism following a high-speed, high-altitude launch. A telemetry unit was used in place of a live warhead during the test.

Upon entering service, the SPEAR missile is expected to provide a powerful new strike option for both the RAF and the Royal Navy.

The SPEAR missile, under development since 2016, is designed to fit into the F-35B stealth fighter's internal bay as part of its Block 4 upgrades. The F-35B can carry up to eight SPEAR missiles, enhancing its standoff air-to-ground capability to target enemy air defenses in complex environments. The turbojet-powered missile is designed for fast-moving, well-defended targets such as air defense units, missile launchers, tanks, naval vessels, and armored personnel carriers. It is 2 meters (6.56 feet) long, 18 cm (7 inches) in diameter, and has a range of 100 kilometers (62 miles). Guided by inertial navigation and GPS, the missile autonomously navigates using its radar seeker and radio-frequency imagery. Its full operational capability has been moved to 2028 from 2025.