The British pick MBDA’s Spear 3 cruise missile for their F-35s
January 6
A delegate looks at the MBDA Spear network-enabled, high-precision, surface-attack system, left, a "Future Low Observable Subsonic Cruise Missile Concept," center, and a Spear EW network-enabled, electronic warfare decoy and jammer, right, at the DSEI arms fair in September 2019 in London. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)
LONDON — British F-35B combat jets are to be equipped with a new mini cruise missile following the signing of a £550 million (U.S. $750 million) production contract by the Ministry of Defence and contractor MBDA, the company announced Jan. 6.
The deal should see the Spear 3 missile achieve initial operation capability on the aircraft in 2025, making it the primary air-to-ground weapon for the Lockheed Martin-built jets now coming into service with the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.