The UK’s ‘missile of the future’ for its F-35s has been delayed again

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.

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