Spear missile one step closer to being fitted to F-35Bs after successful test-firing

RAF and Royal Navy pilots will benefit from a cutting edge new missile, signifying a major leap forward in the programme's development.

Spear was successfully fired from a BAE Systems-operated Typhoon jet at the Vidsel range in Sweden.

The turbojet-powered miniature cruise missile can hit targets from 100km away.

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A critical milestone in the development of the missile was the guided firing trial, where it navigated itself to its target using an all-weather radar seeker and radio-frequency imagery.

The missile is designed to be used against a range of targets, including air defences, ships, tanks, defended structures and fast-moving vehicles, and can operate in challenging and complex environments.

Once in service, it will be fitted to RAF and Royal Navy F-35B Lightning stealth jets, allowing its pilots to strike targets both from land and the Navy's Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.

The Lightnings will be able to carry up to eight Spear missiles at a time, providing the next generation of long-range air-to-surface missiles.

Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard said it was a major achievement. 

"The successful trial of the pioneering Spear missile marks a significant leap forward in UK Armed Forces' capabilities, ensuring our Royal Navy and Royal Air Force personnel are equipped with cutting-edge technology to protect our nation," he said.

"This achievement not only strengthens national defence capabilities but also boosts the UK economy by supporting high-skilled jobs and innovation."

The trial itself, which did not carry a live warhead, demonstrated the long-range free-flight control of the missile following a high-altitude and high-speed release.

Created in the UK by the missile designer and producer company MBDA, the new initiative supports several hundred jobs among its workforce.

Spear is part of a wider £6.5bn planned investment in the UK weapons industry by the Ministry of Defence over the next decade, putting the UK at the forefront of future weapons development.

The MOD showcased the new missile's abilities on X.