MBDA has commenced low-rate initial production (LRIP) of its SPEAR 3 air-launched mini cruise missile following the successful completion of flight testing, with initial deliveries expected in early 2027. Officially designated Selective Precision Effects At Range (SPEAR 3), the 100-kilogram turbojet-powered missile was originally developed for the UK’s F-35B Lightning II fighter. MBDA is now expanding the missile’s integration to European fourth-generation combat aircraft and is developing a three-round external launcher scheduled for release next year. The company has also announced future integration of SPEAR 3 with General Atomics’ MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft and the Gambit 6 collaborative combat aircraft. Designed primarily for the suppression and destruction of enemy air defenses (SEAD/DEAD), SPEAR 3 can engage both stationary and moving targets at stand-off ranges exceeding 100 kilometers, enabling launch platforms to remain outside hostile air defense zones. The missile features a two-way datalink for in-flight target updates, retargeting, and mission abort, while its dual-mode seeker combines millimeter-wave radar with semi-active laser guidance to deliver all-weather precision strike capability. Its compact dimensions allow aircraft to carry larger weapon loads and engage multiple targets during a single mission. A multi-effect warhead with selectable fuzing further enhances lethality while minimizing collateral damage. MBDA is also advancing additional variants, including SPEAR Glide, an unpowered version with a larger warhead, and SPEAR EW, an electronic warfare variant equipped with Leonardo’s Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) jammer for defeating enemy air defenses. Additionally, the company has successfully demonstrated the integration of its Orchestrike artificial intelligence technology, enabling coordinated missile swarms that can collaborate and adapt dynamically to evolving battlefield conditions.
