Meteor Maker Resists Its Missile Integration on Su-30MKI and Tejas Jets to Boost European Fighter Jets' Position for MRFA Tender

The European consortium behind the Meteor, one of the world's most advanced long-range air-to-air missiles, is reportedly hindering the Indian Air Force's (IAF) plans to integrate the missile onto its frontline fighter jets, including the Su-30MKI, Tejas Mk1A, and the upcoming Tejas MkII. This strategic maneuver appears aimed at bolstering the prospects of European fighter jets in India's upcoming MRFA competition.

Currently, the Meteor is exclusively deployed on the IAF's 36 Rafale jets. Despite the IAF's desire to expand integration to its indigenous Tejas fighters and Russian-origin Su-30MKI fleet, the European consortium, driven by commercial interests, seems reluctant to oblige.

This reluctance stems from the consortium's desire to leverage the Meteor as a unique selling point for the Gripen-E and Eurofighter Typhoon, both vying for India's MRFA tender for 114 new fighter jets. By limiting the Meteor's integration to European platforms, the consortium aims to create a distinct advantage for these contenders in the highly competitive bidding process.

The Meteor missile, renowned for its beyond-visual-range (BVR) capabilities, active radar homing, and ramjet propulsion system, is a game-changer in air combat. Its extended range and sustained speed offer a significant edge in aerial engagements. However, the consortium's restrictive approach could hinder the IAF's efforts to equip its domestically built fighters with this cutting-edge technology, potentially impacting India's pursuit of self-reliance in defence.

In response to this challenge, India is actively developing its own long-range air-to-air missile, the Astra MkIII. This indigenous missile, currently under development by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), will also feature ramjet propulsion to enhance its range and engagement capabilities. However, it will likely be several years before the Astra MkIII becomes operational.

The European consortium's stance on Meteor integration adds another layer of complexity to India's MRFA tender. While the IAF seeks to modernize its fleet with advanced weaponry, this restriction may force them to re-evaluate their acquisition strategies. It could also accelerate India's indigenous missile development programs to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.

 

[R. Singh]

We should select such fighter that can win air battle over TAR sky for India ! IAF should find such fighter jet forget about METEOR !

 

[Capt Mahendra]

India should not succumb to such arm twisting by the west, and instead fasten indigenous alternative with our brilliant minds from highly intelligent and capable youth from IIT and other advanced research institutions.
Fund it even if we have to cut spending somewhere else. West should Stop underestimating our capabilities. It's our brains that contributes in their institutions, instead we should encourage retain them for our nation.

 

[astr illuminati]

Laugh 😂 and move on.
India shall never buy a plane from a group of nation who may play the card of restrictions. Europe is turning islamic and in few years they will obviously be more vocal on anti India stance.
Always be ready

 

[divapooja]

India should make it's own long range Air to air and air to ground missile with the help of IIT and some private defence groups bcz DRDO takes too much time

Yes that's right. Bharath must use our brilliant and telented IITyans to overcome this hurdles by providing timely financial aids. Bharath doesn't have financial issue at this time

 

[sanket]

First, MBDA was saying if Bharat fighter jets had an indigenous AESA radar, they would think about supplying the Meteor missile system. When Tejas MK1A selected the Israeli Elta AESA radar, then after Uttam AESA radar development, chances were enlightened. But these European fighter jet companies, eyeing more orders for fighter jets via MRFA, don't want to sell the Meteor missile system because it will hinder further orders of fighter jets. Dassault even denied integration of Meteor on the Mirage-2000 fighter jet, of which the IAF has 48. This is a pure marketing ploy to sell more European fighter jets, nothing else. Just look at the weapon package of the Su-30 MKI & Rafale. The Su-30MKI has a better weapon package apart from the BVR Meteor missile, while Rafale has the outdated Exocet anti-ship missile with only a 70 km range. Second, the Rafale weapon package also misses an anti-radiation missile package. Lastly, Super Sukhoi will have the indigenous Virupaksha AESA radar based on GaN tech; that's what's hurting the European consortium. Super Sukhoi will get an edge with a 400 km detection range, plus the Meteor system will be a deadly combo.

 

[Praveen]

If this is done deliberately then all European fighters should be banned from participating in MRFA and possibly all future projects.
These guys don't even supply BVRAAMs to all the Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, and Mirage 2000 export countries like Egypt.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

If Astra mk3 is getting too much delayed, then try collaborating with Israel.

 

[Anant]

If this is indeed the case, then screw them! Let them take the Typhoon and Gripen and sell them to someone who is willing to accept their conditions. Reluctance to integrate the Meteor on a Russian-origin platform like the Su-30MKI is understandable (not entirely justified, but understandable, mind you), but doing this "The Meteor is a missile we will only want on European-origin fighters" is utter nonsense.

P. S. High time to place mass orders for stuff like the Astra AAMs now.

 

[Abs29]

Ahh, although it kinda sucks, its not totally unexpected. If we think logically, the Meteors today represent the very pinnacle of European long range air to air missile technology and that being incorporated onto Euro Deltas like Eurofighter, Rafale and Gripen are the USP of European military aviation offerings. As such to expect them to voluntarily dilute their strategic advantage is lame. Especially when they know that DRDO's own Astra MK3 is delayed due to technology complications.

Why would they voluntarily nix their chance to secure large order for fighter and air to air missiles when they know that Indian options are limited.

 

[Rinku Pandey]

No need of Meteors, our own Astra mk3 and mk4 are sufficient. Europeans also know that MRFA is just a lollipop and will never happen. Bharat is developing mk1A,2,3, AMCA, TDBEF, ORCA etc. however long it may take.

 

[Andy]

Put it as a MRFA condition. Everyone will fall in line. But once we have Astra Mk3, should we really look at Meteor...

 

[Bikramjeet Goswami]

If this is indeed the case, then screw them! Let them take the Typhoon and Gripen and sell them to someone who is willing to accept their conditions. Reluctance to integrate the Meteor on a Russian-origin platform like the Su-30MKI is understandable (not entirely justified, but understandable, mind you), but doing this "The Meteor is a missile we will only want on European-origin fighters" is utter nonsense.

P. S. High time to place mass orders for stuff like the Astra AAMs now.

Unfortunately Astra MK 2 & MK 3 are still under development. Russia might be willing to integrate the R 77M for India's Su 30's but its not clear if it has reached production status.

 

[Sridhar]

Unfortunately Astra MK 2 & MK 3 are still under development. Russia might be willing to integrate the R 77M for India's Su 30's but its not clear if it has reached production status.

R77 has become obsolete.

 

[Bikramjeet Goswami]

R77 has become obsolete.

The early versions are probably obsolete though its still widely in use in Russia, China & India. The R 77M is the latest version with nearly 200 km range.

 

[Kailash]

If Astra mk3 is getting too much delayed, then try collaborating with Israel.

Israelis can make Meteor and other western missiles work on the LCA by some hack. But the Astra Mk3's engine is something only Russia can help with. I hope DRDO gets there independently within pragmatic time limits

 

[Rinku Pandey]

If Astra mk3 is getting too much delayed, then try collaborating with Israel.

Absolutely. Isreal has better missiles than meteor in their Airforce.

 

[sas]

All this is to be expected and that is why Aatmanirbhar Bharat is extremely important and should not be just an empty slogan

 

[Varaaah]

They are not crazy. Once integrated, the Indian fighters will become their competitors. It also means that in their minds they keep the possibility open that Indian sold fighters could face their fighters in a conflict.

 

[Gentleman]

Yet when it comes to exporting weapons to India, the so-called Germans wish to displace the Russians. BOGUS 🙄

 

[Radha Ramanan]

There is another way out of all this: a long-range missile. You will remember that when the Barak-8 MRSAM was being built, there was a statement from the Israeli partners that they could easily convert it into an AAM. Not many people knew the value or the strategic impact it could have on air warfare. It's time to think about it now, as we badly need a long-range AAM to counter the Chinese PL-15e due to the delay in the Astra MK3 program. In any future air battle like the one after Balakot, be sure we will face a volley of PL-15 missiles from stand-off range where we can't do a thing apart from jamming it and going cold, i.e., turning away in the opposite direction of the missile, which will decrease its range dramatically. It's very important that we buy the latest variant of the EL-8222, i.e., the Scorpius version that has an AESA antenna that can jam many radars simultaneously due to its inherent advantage.

We should also note that the Pakistani J-10 has an AESA radar that will be all but impossible to jam with conventional non-AESA jammers. If the PL-15 missile has an AESA seeker, which I suspect, then it will be double trouble, and Indian fighters will be an easy target.

To overcome this present crisis, we can easily convert the Barak-8 missile into a long-range AAM with the help of Israel. Indian input is minimal in the Barak-8: just the rocket motor, fins, actuators, warheads. All the critical systems like the seeker, the software, navigation, and the fuzing system are from Israel. The body of the missile should integrate carrying lugs for air pylon carriage, that's all. Software modification for air-to-air, that's all.

 

[Jagroshan singh]

There must be some specific countries in EU that opposed the integration of Meteor missiles in Su-30, and Tejas. Which are those country/countries?

 

[Sridhar]

The early versions are probably obsolete though its still widely in use in Russia, China & India. The R 77M is the latest version with nearly 200 km range.

My view since ASTRA 2 and 3 are already planned for IAF, why should IAF go for R77 M? Maybe IAF will get these by the end of this decade, situation can be managed with existing inventory.

 

[Bikramjeet Goswami]

My view since ASTRA 2 and 3 are already planned for IAF, why should IAF go for R77 M? Maybe IAF will get these by the end of this decade, situation can be managed with existing inventory.

So no need for the Meteor either right?

 

[ku.nj727]

India should make it's own long range Air to air and air to ground missile with the help of IIT and some private defence groups bcz DRDO takes too much time

 

[Sandeep]

This is nothing more than a typical white mans exploitation of other developing countries. One can understand that they don’t want to integrate a missile on a system made by Russia who has access to the missiles details on the jets computer but there’s nothing wrong with integrating it on the Tejas MK1A, MK2 and the AMCA which are 100% indigenous jets. On our indigenous jets there is absolutely nothing made by Russia and they don’t have any access to it. Also we are going to upgrade and overhaul all of our Sukhoi jets into Super Sukhoi jets which will replace all Russian equipment and technology with indigenous systems which will prevent Russia from gaining any information from the jets as well.

MBDA have shot themselves in the foot by taking this decision as they have lost the opportunity on selling more missiles to our large air force on a long term basis for decades. If they thought that this rejection will make India buy the Rafale or euro fighter in large numbers for the MRFA competition then they have made a fatal decision. The MRFA isn’t going to proceed at all because it’s just too expensive, we won’t get the critical technology or get to make as much as we would like to indigenously.