US F-35B Fighter Releases Meteor Missile From Internal Bay for First Time in European Weapons Push.

The United Kingdom and Italy are advancing efforts to equip their F-35 stealth fighters with the European Meteor air-to-air missile following its first successful release from an internal weapons bay. This development would provide both countries with an alternative to the American AIM-120 AMRAAM, already used by their air forces, offering different engagement characteristics and greater flexibility in selecting long-range air-to-air weapons.

An F-35B Lightning II releases an inert Meteor missile from its internal weapons bay during a separation trial at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, on October 7, 2026. ( Picture Source: US DoD)

The integration is part of a British-led initiative, subsequently expanded to include Italy, to adapt European weapons for the American fifth-generation fighter. Beyond expanding air combat options, the program could eventually benefit other F-35 operators that already employ Meteor on their existing aircraft, allowing them to use the same missile family across European and American fighter fleets.

According to the F-35 Joint Program Office and MBDA, which reported the milestone in early November 2026, the trial took place on October 7 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland. A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23 (VX-23) released an inert Meteor test asset from its internal weapons bay. The aircraft was flown by a Royal Navy test pilot from the Air and Space Warfare Centre, supported by the joint U.S.-British F-35 Integrated Test Force.

Related News: US Marine Corps tests British Meteor missile on F-35B stealth fighter to expand long-range air combat capabilities

From a British Initiative to Joint European Integration

The program originated in British efforts launched in 2019 to integrate Meteor and the SPEAR air-to-surface missile onto its F-35 fleet. Additional funding announced in 2021 extended the work to British and Italian aircraft. The United Kingdom leads integration on the short take-off and vertical landing F-35B, while Italy supports the corresponding effort for the conventional F-35A. BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin and MBDA are involved in development activities within the framework of the U.S.-led F-35 program.

The latest trial follows captive carry flights conducted in February 2025, during which an F-35B carried Meteor to collect environmental and aerodynamic data. This time, the missile physically separated from the internal bay without activating its propulsion system or control surfaces. Engineers will use the results to refine digital models predicting weapon behavior in the complex airflow surrounding the aircraft.

Further separation trials are planned under different flight conditions before the program progresses to live firings. Work is also advancing separately on the F-35A, with MBDA and Lockheed Martin having completed ground-based integration trials in 2025. Certification of Meteor on the F-35B will therefore not automatically authorize its use on the F-35A, although both efforts pursue similar objectives. British authorities currently anticipate an operational capability in the early 2030s.

Meteor uses a throttleable ramjet propulsion system that distinguishes it from conventionally powered missiles such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM. Measuring approximately 3.7 meters and weighing 190 kilograms, the weapon can sustain thrust during much of its flight, retaining more energy during the terminal interception phase. This characteristic expands its no-escape zone against aircraft capable of performing evasive maneuvers.

The missile also incorporates an active radar seeker and a two-way data link that allows targeting information to be updated during flight. Combined with the F-35's sensor fusion and networked architecture, these features could provide additional engagement options against opposing fighters, particularly when targeting data originates from other aircraft or sensors.

Additional Air Combat Options for European F-35 Operators

The United Kingdom and Italy are currently the only European countries operating the F-35B, a variant also acquired by the United States, Japan and Singapore. Both European operators already use Meteor on their Eurofighter Typhoons. Their F-35 fleets, meanwhile, employ American AMRAAM missiles for beyond-visual-range engagements. Meteor would therefore complement an existing capability rather than introduce long-range air combat to the aircraft for the first time.

The potential market extends beyond these two countries. Germany has ordered F-35As while retaining Meteor in the weapons inventory of its Eurofighter fleet, and MBDA has publicly encouraged Berlin to consider integrating the missile onto its future American fighters. Greece, which operates Meteor-equipped Rafales and has also ordered F-35As, could examine a similar option. Neither country, however, has announced a formal commitment to such integration.

For British naval aviation and Italian naval forces, Meteor could provide additional flexibility in defending maritime formations against hostile aircraft. Its sustained propulsion offers advantages against maneuvering targets at extended distances, while internal carriage would preserve the F-35's low-observable characteristics during air combat missions.

Beyond military performance, the implications also concern European industrial cooperation. Meteor was developed under a six-nation program involving the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden, providing European countries with another source of advanced air-to-air missiles. Its integration onto the F-35 could allow operators to diversify procurement beyond American AMRAAM stocks while retaining access to both missile families. Although this would not remove their dependence on U.S. aircraft technology or the approvals required for weapons integration, it could provide European NATO members with greater flexibility in equipping their fighters and sustaining air operations, particularly during prolonged conflicts.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in Security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.

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