The United Kingdom has decided to discontinue plans for a mid-life modernization of the MBDA Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, instead prioritizing the development of a completely new-generation weapon under the Future Air Superiority Effectors (FASE) programme. The decision reflects the Royal Air Force’s long-term strategy to maintain technological superiority against increasingly capable aerial threats and advanced electronic warfare systems. Rather than extending the Meteor’s operational life through hardware upgrades, the UK aims to develop a successor optimized for both crewed sixth-generation fighters and autonomous combat aircraft. The future missile is expected to incorporate next-generation propulsion, enhanced networking, artificial intelligence-enabled guidance, and improved resistance against sophisticated countermeasures. The initiative is also supported by a joint UK-France study evaluating future missile concepts, ensuring that European air forces remain competitive against emerging long-range missile technologies such as China’s PL-17 while complementing future platforms developed under GCAP.
