SPEAR 3

One of the Select Precision Effects At Range (SPEAR) programme's first mentions was in the 2005 Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS). This vaguely described it as a new munition "planned to address the capability requirement to be able to attack fast-moving targets at range" that was then in its concept phase. The 2005 DIS also highlighted the increased importance of precision-guided weaponry but also the importance of maintaining the UK's sovereign industrial base for the development for such systems. It discussed how the performance and safety aspects of weapon systems can only be guaranteed if the UK has access to and a complex understanding of a weapon system, something that may not always be possible with systems imported from other nations such as the United States. This among other advantages of a sovereign complex weapons industry made maintaining this capability of high importance. As such, the DIS outlined planned efforts of rationalisation, government cooperation with industry, and consolidation to strengthen the UK's complex weapons capability.{{Cite web |date=December 2005 |title=Defence Industrial Strategy |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/272203/6697.pdf |access-date=9 September 2024 |website=Ministry of Defence}} By 2006, this had culminated in Team Complex Weapons, a relationship primarily between MBDA and the Ministry of Defence (MoD), and supported by partners such as Thales, Roxel, and QinetiQ.{{Cite web |date=15 July 2008 |title=MoD launches a new approach to acquiring complex weapons |url=https://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/0/38299592A2CAF64D80257487003CF6D5?Open |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=www.wired-gov.net |language=en}}

By 2006, the SPEAR programme had begun to evolve from a singular munition to instead a portfolio of air-to-surface guided weapons programmes fulfilling five distinct capabilities through either the upgrading of existing precision-guided munitions, or the development new systems:

• Capability 1: Upgrades to Raytheon's Paveway IV 500lb guided-bomb (reduction of collateral damage, new penetrator warhead, and improved performance against moving targets)
• Capability 2: Upgrades to MBDA's Brimstone {{Convert|50|kg|lb|abbr=on}} class missile (development of dual-mode capability).
• Capability 3: A new {{Convert|100|kg|lb|abbr=on}} class munition with in-flight re-targeting capability.
• Capability 4: Upgrades to MBDA's Storm Shadow long-range stand-off weapon.
• Capability 5: A new successor missile to replace Storm Shadow (now the Future Cruise / Anti-Ship Weapon)

The requirements for SPEAR 3 were identified initially from the RAFs experience during the 1999 NATO intervention in Kosovo with shortfalls in engaging time-sensitive targets that were mobile and manoeuvrable. By 2015, this had evolved to become a low-collateral weapon with high accuracy at all times and in all weather conditions whilst in theatres with restrictive rules of engagement and that had sufficient range to 'stand-off' outside the effective envelope of the latest integrated air defence systems.{{cite web |title=Aimpoint selection: the UK's SPEAR Cap 3 air-to-surface weapon |url=http://www.janes360.com/images/assets/853/47853/the_UK_s_SPEAR_Cap_3_air-to-surface_weapon.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714182911/http://www.janes360.com/images/assets/853/47853/the_UK_s_SPEAR_Cap_3_air-to-surface_weapon.pdf |archive-date=2015-07-14 |publisher=IHS Janes}}

Initially, the SPEAR 3 programme was kept outside of the Team Complex Weapons structure which allowed for companies outside the team to submit offering for SPEAR 3. In 2006, Lockheed Martin offered the Surveilling Miniature Attack Cruise Missile (SMACM) but was not taken forward.{{Cite web |last=Franchi |first=Peter La |date=2006-09-12 |title=Lockheed Martin reveals SPEAR cruise missile candidate, packaging SMACM for UK strike weapon requirement |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/lockheed-martin-reveals-spear-cruise-missile-candidate-packaging-smacm-for-uk-strike-weapon-requirement/69498.article |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=Flight Global |language=en}} In the 2010s, Raytheon offered the Small Diameter Bomb-II (SDB-II) unpowered glide bomb including the possibility of licensed production at its UK facilities. Meanwhile, MBDA UK offered a new missile design utilising its existing weapon technologies to produce miniature cruise missiles. In 2010, MBDA was awarded a £150 million four-year assessment phase to further examine the development of this new weapon system, specifically developing and testing the guidance system including the seeker head and data link, as well as the warhead. This would eventually culminate with a test-launch from an aircraft. In 2012, it was announced that Pratt & Whitney AeroPower had been contracted to provide propulsion technical assistance for MBDA's SPEAR 3 proposal, as well as the supply of a derivation of its TJ-150 turbojet for the weapon. In 2015, Raytheon considered developing a powered SDB-II variant with a turbojet, or alternatively, developing a weaponised variant of the ADM-160 MALD (Miniature Air-Launched Decoy) with both options as likely counters to MBDA's competing powered-weapon design by offering a lower-capability weapon system, but that was more mature, had a lower-cost and that could be produced sooner given the active production line of the standard SDB-II in the US. Reportedly, the MoD remained open to this trade-off and continued to give consideration to Raytheon's proposals.{{Cite web |last=Chuter |first=Andrew |date=2015-06-15 |title=Raytheon Considers Powered SDB for UK F-35s |url=https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/paris-air-show/2015/06/15/raytheon-considers-powered-sdb-for-uk-f-35s/ |access-date=2023-10-15 |website=Defense News |language=en}}

In March 2016, a SPEAR test missile was successfully launched from a Eurofighter Typhoon trials aircraft operated by BAE Systems at the QinetiQ Aberporth range in Wales. This test-firing was specifically to test the missile’s airframe, navigation and propulsion systems. The missile transitioned through separation from the aircraft to powered flight before completing a series of manoeuvres, ending in a terminal dive to the desired point of impact. The missile accurately followed the planned trajectory and was well within simulation predictions; all trial objectives were achieved.{{cite web |date=12 July 2016 |title=MBDA showcases the SPEAR precision strike missile for the F35 |url=http://www.mbda-systems.com/press-releases/mbda-showcases-the-spear-precision-strike-missile-for-the-f-35/ |publisher=MBDA}} On 18 March 2016, MBDA's bid for SPEAR 3 program was solidified when the MoD awarded them a £411 million contract for the development of air-launched SPEAR missile for the F-35B.{{Cite web |date=18 March 2016 |title=£411 million investment in new missile for UK's new jets sustains 700 UK jobs |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/411-million-investment-in-new-missile-for-uks-new-jets-sustains-700-uk-jobs/ |publisher=UK Ministry of Defence}}

On 18 March 2019, BAE Systems announced that it, alongside Lockheed Martin and MBDA, had been contracted to integrate SPEAR onto the F-35B.{{Cite web |date=18 March 2016 |title=Meteor and Spear integration onto UK F-35 fleet |url=https://www.baesystems.com/en/article/work-starts-integrating-next-generation-meteor-and-spear-onto-uk-f-35-fleet |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=www.baesystems.com}}

In September 2019, MBDA was awarded a technical demonstrator program contract by the Defence Equipment and Support agency for an electronic warfare variant of SPEAR for the RAF, incorporating Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) technology from Leonardo.{{cite news |author= |date=11 September 2019 |title=MBDA working on new SPEAR-EW electronic warfare weapon |url=https://www.mbda-systems.com/press-releases/17630/ |access-date=19 October 2019 |work=MBDA}}{{cite web |title=SPEAR-EW Network enabled Electronic Warfare Capability |url=https://www.mbda-systems.com/?action=force-download-attachment&attachment_id=20573 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506182946/https://www.mbda-systems.com/?action=force-download-attachment&attachment_id=20573 |archive-date=2022-05-06 |format=PDF}}

In June 2022, it was revealed that the first live-firing of SPEAR had been delayed until 2023 due to 'technical considerations and programme complexity'.{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Tim |date=21 June 2022 |title=Technical trouble forces UK to delay SPEAR 3 first firing {{!}} Shephard |url=https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-notes/technical-trouble-forces-uk-to-delay-spear-3-first-firing-until-2023/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=www.shephardmedia.com |language=en}}

In July 2023, Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) data revealed that the Delivery Confidence Assessment had been downgraded from Amber to Red primarily resulting from “challenges with resourcing sufficient suitably qualified and experienced people across the programme and delivery teams, and within industry”.{{Cite web |last=Allison |first=George |date=2023-07-23 |title=F-35 Spear Cap 3 missile project 'facing challenges' |url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/f-35-spear-cap-3-missile-project-slides-into-the-red/ |access-date=2023-10-03 |language=en-GB}}

In September 2023, MBDA was awarded additional funds to fast-track the development of SPEAR-EW from the Ministry of Defence.{{Cite web |last=Allison |first=George |date=2023-09-12 |title=UK boosts funding for SPEAR-EW jammer development – DSEI23 |url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-boosts-funding-for-spear-ew-jammer-development-dsei23/ |access-date=2023-10-03 |language=en-GB}}

On 6 September 2024, Maria Eagle the Minister of State for Defence outlined that SPEAR was now in the demonstration phase. This also came with the announcement that the financial investment in the programme stood at approximately £1.4 billion.{{Cite web |last=Allison |first=George |date=2024-09-07 |title=New British cruise missile to be fired later this year |url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/new-british-cruise-missile-to-be-fired-later-this-year/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |language=en-GB}} In mid-October 2024, the first live-firing of a SPEAR missile took place at the Vidsel test range in Sweden. The trial saw a BAE Systems-operated Typhoon test and evaluation aircraft equipped with a modified SPEAR, exchanging a live-warhead with a telemetry unit. The trial successfully demonstrated weapon release at high-speed and high-altitude, as well as long-range free-flight control to a target.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-17 |title=First successful guided firing trial of SPEAR-3 stand off missile |url=https://www.navylookout.com/first-successful-guided-firing-trial-of-spear-3-stand-off-missile/ |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=www.navylookout.com |language=en-GB}}

SPEAR weighs less than {{Convert|90|kg|lb}} with a length of {{Convert|1.8|m|ft}} and a diameter of {{Convert|180|mm|in}}.{{Cite web |first= |date=6 Jan 2021 |title=£550m F-35 missile contract signed |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/550m-f-35-missile-contract-signed/ |access-date=3 October 2023 |website=RAF}} SPEAR is guided by inertial navigation and GPS as well as a two-way datalink.{{cite web |last=Hoyle |first=Craig |date=27 June 2012 |title=PICTURES: MBDA sharpens Spear missile design for F-35 integration |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pictures-mbda-sharpens-spear-missile-design-for-f-35-integration/105874.article |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813171404/https://www.flightglobal.com/pictures-mbda-sharpens-spear-missile-design-for-f-35-integration/105874.article |archive-date=2020-08-13 |newspaper=Flight International}} This with a multimode seeker head for terminal guidance which includes millimetric wave radar, infrared homing, and semi-active laser modes. The weapon is propelled by a Hamilton Sundstrand TJ-150 turbojet (the same engine as used in the JSOW-ER and MALD) which when combined with a folding wing kit and three deployable tail-fins, provides an engagement range reportedly in excess of {{Convert|140|km|mi}}.{{cite web |last=Administrator |title=MBDA SPEAR 3 missile would bring true anti-ship capabilities to RAF and FAA F-35s |url=http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/year-2014-news/july-2014-navy-naval-forces-maritime-industry-technology-security-global-news/1911-mbda-spear-3-missile-would-bring-true-anti-ship-capabilities-to-raf-and-faa-f-35s.html |accessdate=23 July 2016}} The size of SPEAR's warhead is not public, but is believed to be smaller than the SDB-II's approximately {{Convert|105|lb|kg}} warhead.{{Cite web |last=Osborn |first=Kris |date=2017-10-31 |title=Small Diameter Bomb II Completes Live Fire Test Destroying T-72 Tank |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/02/25/small-diameter-bomb-ii-completes-live-fire-test-destroying-t72.html |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=Military.com |language=en}} According to MBDA, SPEAR is designed to engage various ground targets including armoured vehicles, self-propelled artillery, air defences, ballistic missile launchers and defended structures, but also naval targets.{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=Spear |url=https://www.mbda-systems.com/?action=force-download-attachment&attachment_id=26537 |access-date=15 September 2024 |website=MBDA}} MBDA produced an animation in 2015 showing SPEAR engaging small vessels including LCACs.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPuL19rWxBg |title=SPEAR |date=2015-05-27 |last=MBDA |access-date=2024-09-15 |via=YouTube}}

File:SPEAR3triplet.jpg

SPEAR will be integrated with the F-35 Lightning's Block 4 software package.{{cite web |title=Storm Shadow dropped from UK's F-35B follow-on integration plan |url=http://www.janes.com/article/57304/storm-shadow-dropped-from-uk-s-f-35b-follow-on-integration-plan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122235748/http://www.janes.com/article/57304/storm-shadow-dropped-from-uk-s-f-35b-follow-on-integration-plan |archive-date=2016-01-22 |publisher=IHS Janes}} Whilst SPEAR has been integrated onto the Eurofighter Typhoon for testing purposes, it is still unclear if formal integration will occur. Mock-ups for the UK's future sixth-generation fighter 'Tempest' being developed under the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) with Japan and Italy have been shown with SPEAR as part of the aircraft's possible future arsenal alongside the (FC/ASW).{{Cite web |last=Stevenson |first=Beth |date=2018-07-16 |title=Britain reveals combat air strategy alongside new Tempest fighter jet design |url=https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/farnborough/2018/07/16/introducing-tempest-the-uks-next-gen-fighter/ |access-date=2023-12-15 |website=Defense News |language=en}} Four SPEARs and an air-to-air missile (Meteor) will fit in each of the two internal weapons-bays of the F-35B when in an air-to-surface configuration.{{cite web |title=MBDA MISSILE CAPABILITIES F-35 LIGHTNING II |url=https://www.mbda-systems.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/JSF-Data-Sheet_Layout-1.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813174257/https://www.mbda-systems.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/JSF-Data-Sheet_Layout-1.pdf |archive-date=2020-08-13}} No images have yet been revealed of external carriage capability for the F-35B with all current renderings and models showing only internally mounted weapons. MBDA had previously shown artwork of a four-missile launch rail on a single Typhoon weapon station. This has been revised to instead a tri-rail configuration.

Networked swarm capability for SPEAR missiles is in development.{{cite web |date=12 September 2019 |title=SPEAR Mini-Cruise Missile Getting An Electronic Warfare Variant To Swarm With Is A Huge Deal - The Drive |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/29789/spear-mini-cruise-missile-getting-an-electronic-warfare-variant-to-swarm-with-is-a-huge-deal}} In 2023, MBDA announced that SPEAR would be integrated into Orchestrike, MBDA's collaborative effector system utilising AI to allow multiple smart munitions to work in concert with one another.{{Cite web |title=Paris Air Show: MBDA aims to overcome complex air defence challenges with Orchestrike {{!}} Shephard |url=https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/mbda-plans-to-overcome-complex-air-defence-challenges-with-orchestrike/ |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=www.shephardmedia.com |language=en}}{{Citation |title=[DSEI23] SPEAR-EW: Advancing Electronic Warfare to the Next Stage |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6YXVjSK5IE |access-date=2023-10-03 |language=en}} At the Farnborough Airshow 2024, MBDA confirmed that the SPEAR product line would be the first to receive this capability.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-18 |title=Orchestrike: MBDA accelerates deployment of AI for SPEAR cruise missiles |url=https://newsroom.mbda-systems.com/?p=15990 |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=MBDA |language=en-EN}}{{Cite web |date=2024-07-22 |title=Farnborough 2024: MBDA advances AI-based Orchestrike for SPEAR missile family |url=https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/weapons/farnborough-2024-mbda-advances-ai-based-orchestrike-for-spear-missile-family |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=Default |language=en}}

File:DSC01245xy-SPEAREW.jpg

SPEAR-EW maintains the same dimensions as SPEAR, but with an enlarged fuel capacity and the removal of the warhead and seeker to accommodate an electronic warfare payload derived from Leonardo UK's BriteCloud countermeasure. SPEAR-EW is designed to loiter in contested airspace and act as either a stand-in jammer or a decoy similar to the ADM-160 MALD.{{Cite web |title=SPEAR-EW {{!}} Air Dominance, TACTICAL STRIKE |url=https://www.mbda-systems.com/product/spear-ew/ |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=MBDA |language=en-US}} The UK had reportedly shown interest in the capabilities of MALD at the 2009 at the Paris Air Show.{{Cite web |last=Hoyle |first=Craig |date=16 June 2009 |title=PARIS AIR SHOW: Raytheon advances MALD-J, as UK eyes derivative |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/paris-air-show-raytheon-advances-mald-j-as-uk-eyes-derivative/87117.article |access-date=2023-11-06 |website=Flight Global |language=en}}

=== Conceptualised variants ===

Concepts have also been shown for additional missile variants such as SPEAR Glide, an unpowered variant without the TJ-150 turbojet making it more analogous to the GBU-53; sacrificing speed, range and manoeuvrability for a larger warhead whilst still be able to be carried on the same weapon rail as other SPEAR variants by retaining the common airframe.{{Cite web |title=MBDA discloses development of SPEAR variants |url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/mbda-discloses-development-of-spear-variants |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=Janes.com |language=en}} Another concept has been for a surface launched variant called the Common Anti-Surface Modular Missile (CAsMM) that could be quad-packed into the Mark 41 / Mark 57 or similar vertical launcher systems (Sylver) by utilising the same Extensible Launching System (EXLS) munitions adapter as the Common Anti-Air Modular Missile (CAMM) family.

{{country|United Kingdom}}

Royal Air Force / Royal Navy - Scheduled to be fully operational on the F-35B by 2028.

{{Flag|Italy}}

Italian Navy - On 15 July 2024, documentation published by the Italian Parliament outlined that the Italian Navy's 20 F-35Bs would be equipped with SPEAR 3.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-16 |title=Italian Navy to equip F-35Bs with JSM, SPEAR 3 stand-off weapons |url=https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/defence/italian-navy-to-equip-f-35bs-with-jsm-spear-3-stand-off-weapons |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=Janes |language=en}}

{{country|Saudi Arabia}}

• Royal Saudi Air Force - on 8 March 2022, a Memorandum of understanding was signed between Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) and MBDA, allowing for localised maintenance of MBDA munitions in addition to the planned production of CAMM and CAMM-ER air defence missiles as well as SPEAR 3.{{cite news |date=10 March 2022 |title=WDS 2022: MBDA, SAMI sign agreement on missile maintenance |url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/wds-2022-mbda-sami-sign-agreement-on-missile-maintenance |access-date=5 February 2023 |work=Janes Information Services}} Likely to equip Saudi Eurofighter Typhoons.

{{Flag|Germany}}

• German Air Force - Germany has reportedly shown interest in SPEAR to equip their Eurofighter Typhoons.{{Cite web |last=Chuter |first=Andrew |date=2021-01-06 |title=The British pick MBDA’s Spear 3 cruise missile for their F-35s |url=https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2021/01/06/the-british-pick-mbdas-spear-3-cruise-missile-for-their-f-35s/ |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=Defense News |language=en}}

{{Flag|Italy}}

• Italian Air Force - Italy has reportedly shown interest in SPEAR to equip their Eurofighter Typhoons.

{{Flag|South Korea}}

• Republic of Korea Air Force - On 20 November 2023, MBDA and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) formalised an agreement to improve collaboration of weapons integration on to the KAI KF-21 Boramae and KAI FA-50 Fighting Eagle. As part of this agreement, both parties are also exploring the integration of additional weapons, including SPEAR 3, onto both platforms as well as joint export.{{Cite web |last=Allison |first=George |date=2023-12-12 |title=MBDA and KAI working together for weapon integration |url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/mbda-and-kai-working-together-for-weapon-integration/ |access-date=2023-12-13 |language=en-GB}}

SPEAR

• {{lwc|GBU-53/B StormBreaker}}

SPEAR-EW

• {{lwc|ADM-160 MALD}}

• Future of the Royal Air Force
• Future of the Royal Navy

{{reflist|group=N}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.mbda-systems.com/innovation/preparing-future-products-3/spear-capability-3/ SPEAR 3]

{{UKmissiles}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}

Category:Air-to-surface missiles of the United Kingdom

Category:Anti-tank guided missiles of the United Kingdom

Category:Anti-ship missiles of the United Kingdom