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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Technology

UK's F-35B Completes Test Flight with New AI-Powered Missiles

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • The British F-35B fighter jet successfully completed a test flight carrying four new SPEAR 3 missiles, marking a key step in integrating advanced weaponry.
  • This test flight is crucial for incorporating the UK's latest long-range precision strike capability into NATO's fifth-generation fighter jets.
  • The SPEAR 3 missile, developed by MBDA, features multi-mode seekers and a range of over 100 kilometers, designed for networked warfare and AI-driven combat scenarios.

The United Kingdom is accelerating the development of its next-generation SPEAR 3 missile following a successful test flight by the F-35B stealth fighter jet. The aircraft carried four of the new missiles during the flight, a significant milestone in integrating Britain's latest long-range precision strike capability with NATO's fifth-generation fighter aircraft.

The test took place at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland, conducted by the F-35 Joint Test Force alongside personnel from the British Royal Navy. During the trials, four inert SPEAR 3 missiles were carried to gather environmental data before progressing to missile release and full mission system integration tests. RAF Corporal Daniel Housden described the achievement as a vital outcome of the extensive collaboration between British and American testing teams.

As a team, we have worked hard towards this important milestone, and I am proud to say that SPEAR 3 has now flown on the F-35B.

· Cpl RAF Daniel HousdenCommenting on the successful test flight of the SPEAR 3 missile on the F-35B.

Dan Shelton, weapons integration program manager for the UK and Italy at the F-35 Joint Program Office, emphasized that this success stems from intensive collaboration between the UK government, the US government, and the defense industry. The SPEAR 3 missile, developed by MBDA, is designed to enhance the combat capabilities of the F-35B and Eurofighter Typhoon in modern, networked, and AI-driven warfare.

This mini cruise missile is engineered for precision strikes from beyond enemy air defense range. Weighing under 100 kilograms and equipped with a mini turbojet engine, the SPEAR 3 can reach targets over 100 kilometers away. Its key advantage lies in its multi-mode seeker technology, which combines millimeter-wave radar, GPS, inertial navigation, semi-active laser, and a two-way datalink. This allows the missile to hit moving targets like tanks, radars, missile launchers, and small ships with high accuracy in various weather conditions. The missile is designed for internal carriage within the F-35B's weapons bay, preserving the aircraft's stealth capabilities. Once fully integrated, an F-35B is expected to carry up to eight SPEAR 3 missiles internally.

The success was born from intensive collaboration between the British government, the US government, and the defense industry.

· Dan SheltonHighlighting the cooperative effort behind the missile integration.
About this summary

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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