South Korea boosts air power with cutting-edge meteor missiles
After a series of tests, South Korea decided to purchase the first 100 Meteor missiles. Designed to combat aerial targets, the Meteor surpasses its competitors in range, and more European aircraft are being integrated with it.
2:12 PM EST, November 14, 2024
South Korea is pursuing an ambitious program to develop not only its own 5th generation fighter jet, the KF-21 Boramae, but also a full range of aviation weaponry. Seoul plans to initiate independent production of various air-to-air missiles, guided air-to-ground weapons, and aerial cruise missiles.
Before South Korea's industry can develop and deliver these, the Korean Air Force is reliant on imports. After a series of successful tests of European aviation weaponry, Korea ordered the first batch of Meteor air-to-air missiles. They will be delivered along with the beginning of serial deliveries of the KF-21, scheduled for 2026.
The MBDA Meteor missile is a European-developed weapon that, thanks to design innovations, offers a record-breaking range of approximately 124 miles and unique capabilities.
An exceptional weapon from Europe
Various European aircraft, such as the Dassault Rafale, Saab JAS-39 Gripen, and Eurofighter Typhoon, are gradually being integrated with the Meteor, which has been in service since 2016
MBDA Meteor air-to-air missile
The MBDA Meteor is 12 feet long, less than 7 inches in diameter, and weighs 419 pounds. The missile is equipped with a two-way datalink.
After launch, it initially flies toward the target using inertial (dead-reckoning) guidance, but midway, it communicates with the aircraft from which it was fired to receive updated target position information. Near the target—when the response time is minimal—the missile activates its radar for precise guidance and target destruction.
The Meteor stands out not only in its guidance method but also in its propulsion.
Most competing solutions, such as the American AIM-120 AMRAAM, are solid-fuel missiles. Their engines operate for several seconds to accelerate the missile; after that, it travels from momentum without its own propulsion.
The Meteor operates differently—it is launched using a small solid-fuel engine. Still, after launch, a ramjet engine is activated, allowing it to maintain a constant, high speed of Mach 4 during flight.
This allows not only for a long-range but also for missile maneuverability without a sudden energy loss. Consequently, the Meteor can target objects beyond the reach of the AMRAAM, flying not only far but also, for instance, at high altitudes.
What determines the range of an air-to-air missile?
The range of an air-to-air missile depends on many factors. Data provided in different compilations, Wikipedia, or even specialized reports fundamentally say little—when asked about range, the honest answer is: "it depends."
The same missile will have a different range against a target flying at the same altitude compared to a higher target, where distance must also be covered vertically. Factors such as air density, which provides more resistance closer to the Earth's surface, are significant.
A lot also depends on whether the target is maneuvering or disrupting the missile's guidance, and whether the missile is powered only at launch or also—in the case of the MBDA Meteor—during flight.
The platform from which the missile is launched is also essential. The same AMRAAM carried by an F-16 will have a shorter range than an identical missile carried by an F-15 or F-22. If the launching aircraft is flying faster at the time of missile release, the missile is already at a speed that another rocket would have to reach.
Therefore, seemingly similar multi-role aircraft may have different capabilities in combating aerial targets. However, their armament provides a critical difference.
