F-35B conducts flight test with British SPEAR mini-cruise missile

BELFAST — An F-35B fighter jet has flight tested the British SPEAR 3 miniature cruise missile for the first time, according to European missile house MBDA.

Announcing the move in a Thursday statement, the manufacturer said that the flight occurred “earlier this year” from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. and involved four of the long-range munitions equipped on the Lockheed Martin-made aircraft. The flight was flown by a UK Royal Navy F-35B test pilot.

MBDA noted that after the flight “data gathered will be examined, and testing will continue in preparation for the first mission systems integration and jettison trials as the next critical integration milestones.”

First flight of the weapon, designed to provide British F-35 jets with a stand off strike capability, comes four years later than originally planned, after an initial delay caused by technical troubles.

“This first flight marks a milestone that will strengthen the UK’s F-35B precision strike arsenal and reinforces the F35 JPO’s commitment to advancing enterprise-wide capabilities for all partner nations,” said the F-35 Joint Program Office in a related statement. “Once fully integrated, the F-35B will be able to carry up to eight SPEAR 3 missiles, enhancing its ability to conduct precision strikes while maintaining stealth and survivability.”

F-35 integration also follows a 2024 Eurofighter Typhoon fourth generation fighter jet test fire of SPEAR, held at the Vidsel range in Sweden, as part of a collaboration between BAE Systems and the UK MoD.

The next generation weapon is capable of hitting targets at a range of 100 km (62 miles) and can destroy a variety of threats ranging from air defenses, ships, tanks and fast paced vehicles, according to the UK MoD.

In April, Luke Pollard, UK minister for defense readiness and industry, said that fielding of SPEAR on the F-35 is “targeted” for fiscal year 2028-2029.