MBDA Bags €200M Meteor Missile Deal for Brazilian Gripen NG Jets

European company MBDA has won a €200 million contract to supply 100 Meteor air-to-air missiles to be equipped on Brazilian Gripen NG fighters.

The aircraft are expected to be commissioned by the Brazilian Air Force in 2021 or 2022. France’s share in the €200 million contract is estimated to be around 15 percent, La Tribune reported Saturday.

Saab announced in March 2015 that it has finalized 36 Brazilian Next Generation Gripen fighter aircraft contract for $4.55 Billion. The contract involves the purchase of a complete turnkey weapon system, and the total package includes training, spare parts, support, planning and maintenance. The order comprises 28 single-seater Gripen NG aircraft (corresponding to Sweden’s Gripen E) and a development order for eight two-seater aircraft.

The Meteor active radar guided beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) has been tested on Saab’s Gripen, Dassault Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon jets. The missile offers a multi-shot capability against long range manoeuvring targets, jets, UAVs and cruise missiles in a heavy electronic countermeasures (ECM) environment with range well in excess of 100 kilometres (62 miles). Maximum range is unknown, but no-escape zone of over 60 km is largest among air-to-air missiles according to manufacturer. Solid-fueled ramjet motor allows missile to cruise at a speed of over mach 4 and provides the missile with thrust and mid-way acceleration to target intercept.