The UK's 'missile of the future' for its F-35s has been delayed again
The UK's SPEAR 3 air-to-surface cruise missile is facing further delays.
The UK MOD called the missile, designed for F-35B Lightnings, the "cruise missile of the future."
But its expected timeline for in-service capability has been pushed to the early 2030s.
The UK's new missile, which its defense ministry has called the "cruise missile of the future," has been further delayed.
The SPEAR 3 air-to-surface cruise missile is intended for use by F-35B Lightnings in both the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy. Its manufacturer, European multinational MBDA, says it will be the "primary air launched, precision effects, surface attack weapon" of the RAF.
But the missile's expected timeline for in-service capability has now been pushed back to the early 2030s, Maria Eagle, the UK's minister of state for defense procurement and industry, said.
In response to an opposition lawmaker, Eagle said the weapon program was "undergoing re-baselining," which means its progress is being reconsidered.
She said that a Review Note was expected toward the end of 2025, and "until that is approved, dates are considered draft and of low confidence."
"The estimated current timeline for in-service capability is expected to be early 2030s," she added.
This represents another in a series of delays for the project. The missiles were once expected to be integrated by 2025, which was then pushed back to the last quarter of 2028.
The SPEAR 3 missile was successfully launched from an aircraft for the first time last year, the RAF said. It was launched by a Eurofighter Typhon jet in a test over Sweden.
The RAF described the SPEAR missile as "a next generation turbojet-powered miniature cruise missile," to be used by both Royal Air Force and Royal Navy pilots.
It said each F-35B will be able to carry up to eight SPEAR missiles at a time.
The UK chose to develop its own cruise missile with MBDA after considering purchasing an available model from US defense company Raytheon.
The RAF said the missiles can hit targets at a distance of 62 miles, and MBDA said they will be effective against naval vessels, main battle tanks, ballistic missile launchers, and fast-moving vehicles, among other targets.
The missile also has a semi-active laser mode, which allows operators to designate a target using a laser, which the missile's seeker then follows.
Gustav Gressel, a missile expert at the National Defence Academy of the Austrian Armed Forces, described the latest SPEAR delay as part of a pattern.
"Aircraft armament in Europe, unfortunately, is a story of delays and cost overruns," he told Business Insider.
The UK has purchased 48 F-35Bs, made by Lockheed Martin, for use by both its air force and navy, though not all have been delivered. It intends to buy a total of 138 jets, though some reports have suggested that number could be reassessed amid cost concerns.
Some countries have said they are reconsidering their commitment to the F-35, as the US distances itself from longtime allies and amid speculation the US could make the jets ineffective by removing critical support.
But a UK Ministry of Defence spokesperson told Business Insider in March that the UK "maintains the freedom of action to operate the F-35 Lightning at a time and place of our choosing."
The RAF described SPEAR last year as part of a portfolio that supports $8.7 billion of planned investment in the UK weapons industry by the MOD over the next decade.
It said this included Brimstone, CAMM, Sea Viper, Sea Venom, and Storm Shadow.
Read the original article on Business Insider
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
UPI
21 minutes ago
- UPI
EU targets Russia with sanctions, lower oil price cap
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (R) and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas briefed the press Monday on the 18th package of sanctions against Russia, in Brussels, Belgium. Photo by Olivier Matthys/EPA-EFE June 10 (UPI) -- The European Commission on Tuesday unveiled its latest in a series of sanctions against Russia targeting energy exports, infrastructure and finances. "Oil exports still represent one-third of Russia's government revenues," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at a news conference in Brussels, Belgium. "We need to cut this source of revenues," she added. The measures aimed to put pressure on Moscow to end Russia's war in Ukraine include a proposal to lower the current $60 oil price cap to $45 per barrel and bans use of the Nord Stream pipelines between Germany and Russia. At least nine individuals and 33 companies will be slapped with asset freezes. And the EU will consider adding another 77 boats part of Russia's "shadow fleet" banned in European ports of entry, part of at least 300 other barred Russian vessels. In addition, at least 22 Russian banks will be cut off from the SWIFT international banking system and the Russian Direct Investment Fund. Von der Leyen called the sanctions "robust" and "hard-biting" and added that Russia's economy has already been bowing to past pressure. "Russia continues to bring death and destruction to Ukraine," she said Monday at the press conference with Kaja Kallas, the EU's top diplomat. "Our message is clear: This war must end." Kallas called Russia's military invasion of Ukraine "outright illegal." She said it was "clear that Russia does not want peace," adding it is "cruel, aggressive and a danger to us all." It arrived ahead of this weekend's G7 summit in Alberta, Canada where the new oil price caps will be discussed. "With this package, we step up pressure on Russia," stated von der Leyen. "Our objective is very clear: We are reiterating the call for a full, unconditional ceasefire of at least 30 days," she said.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Blackstone's $500 Billion Power Play: Why Europe Could Be the Next Big Investing Frontier
Blackstone (NYSE:BX) is gearing up for a decade-long, $500 billion investment spree across Europea bold signal that the world's largest alternative asset manager sees the continent's shifting economic backdrop as fertile ground for long-term bets. CEO Steve Schwarzman, speaking with Bloomberg, said Europe is starting to embrace pro-growth reforms, which could unlock a wave of new opportunities. That optimism isn't isolated. At last week's SuperReturn conference in Berlin, heavyweights like Permira, BC Partners, and Brookfield also pointed to Europe as a market worth leaning into, especially with dealmaking elsewhere under pressure. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 4 Warning Signs with BX. Blackstone's timing might be strategic. The firm already manages $100 billion in UK investments and holds a commanding position in European real estate, including one of its most profitable calls ever: a concentrated bet on urban warehouses. Its London officeonce the firm's only outpost outside New Yorknow houses 650 employees and is set to move into a new building in Mayfair. One of its newer projects, a data center site in Northern England, could become the largest of its kind in Europe. Schwarzman also credited the UK government for being really focused on making big-ticket investments easier to executea key signal for peers monitoring regulatory risk. But Blackstone isn't stopping at Europe. The firm is also starting to see the Middle East as more than just a capital source. Cities like Riyadh and Dubai, fast becoming global business hubs, are now being eyed as active investment destinations. Schwarzman pointed out that the pace of development in the region is reshaping the opportunity set. In a world where global capital is getting choosier, Blackstone's pivot toward new geographies may be less about chasing yieldand more about being early in the next wave of structural transformation. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Auditor general finds F-35 costs soar amid project delays, pilot shortages
OTTAWA - The estimated cost of Canada's incoming fleet of advanced stealth fighters exploded by nearly 50 per cent in just a few years, auditor general Karen Hogan said Tuesday in a new report. The fighter jet audit was one of eight tabled in the House of Commons by Hogan and environment commissioner Jerry DeMarco. The reports flag problematic procurement contracts, a backlog in applications for First Nations status and a delay in reducing the amount of federal office space. An investigation by the auditor general concluded that costs associated with the F-35 advanced fighter jet program are running $8.7 billion higher than the original estimates. And it warns the program is being plagued by delays and critical shortfalls — including a lack of qualified pilots. The report lands in the middle of an active review ordered by Prime Minister Mark Carney to examine possible alternatives to the F-35. He ordered the review in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war with Canada. National Defence said in 2022 the base price for the F-35s would be $19 billion. Just two years later, the number has climbed to $27.7 billion. That estimate does not include figures for infrastructure upgrades or weapons. The report says the department's 2022 estimates relied on outdated data from 2019 — despite the availability of better estimates showing 'that costs of the aircraft had already increased substantially.' The audit says issues associated with the global pandemic — such as runaway inflation, rising costs for facilities and munitions and volatile foreign exchange rates — pushed the price tag sky high. Defence Minister David McGuinty's office sent out a written statement to media that blamed the increased costs on 'external economic conditions driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, including global supply chain disruptions, workforce shortages, and increased inflation and foreign exchange rates.' 'In combination with increased global tensions and related impacts on the availability and demand for materials, we would not have been able to deliver the full scope of this project under our previous budget,' he said in the statement. But Hogan also warned Tuesday that the program faces 'significant risks that could jeopardize the timely introduction of the new fleet.' She said the department successfully identified the risks but has not planned appropriately to mitigate them. Construction of two new fighter squadron facilities — in Cold Lake, Alta., and Bagotville, Que. — is running three years behind schedule. The report says the facilities will not be ready until at least 2031 because the department needs to 'redo important elements' of their design. The department started planning the new facilities in 2020 before the government had settled on the F-35. The aircraft comes with significant infrastructure security requirements. 'Costs to develop an interim solution to support the new jets will further increase infrastructure expenses,' the report warned. It said the department produced a contingency plan to operate the aircraft from temporary facilities but the plan fell short because it was incomplete and offered 'no proposed actions nor a cost estimate.' Canada is also still short of qualified pilots to fly the advanced aircraft — despite being warned about this in 2018. The report said the F-35 program lacks measures to minimize potential risks and the department failed to produce robust contingency plans. It notes that the department identified cost overruns from inflation and currency fluctuations as potential risks to monitor, but plans to track those risks were never approved by officials. The Liberal government announced in 2017 it planned to purchase 88 new fighter jets. It signed a contract with Lockheed Martin for the F-35s in 2023. The modern jets are needed to replace Canada's aging CF-18 fleet, which is nearing the end of its service life. The fighter jets are expected to be delivered between 2026 and 2032. Over the next two years, the initial eight will be sent to a U.S. air force base in Arizona, where Canadian pilots will be trained to fly them. The rest will be delivered to Canada starting in 2028. The report said the Joint Strike Fighter Program Office conducted various assessments that uncovered 'significant issues,' such as 'insufficient departmental engineering personnel to service support equipment for both the CF-18 Hornet and CF-35A during the transition.' The audit said that at the end of the last fiscal year in March, National Defence earmarked $935 million for the U.S. government for the first four jets and related items needed to produce another eight aircraft. It says about $197 million has been paid out already. On top of that, National Defence spent another $516 million on the project, including $270 million in infrastructure costs. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on June 10, 2025.
