The plans of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to equip its fighter jets with highly advanced missiles may be hitting a roadblock as MBDA, a European defense consortium, behind Meteor missile, a cutting-edge, active radar-guided, beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM), is not keen on India's fighter jets having this missile. This would mean that the IAF's Su-30MKI, Tejas Mk1A, and the upcoming heavier more advanced Tejas MkII would not be equipped with Meteor missiles.
Currently, only the Rafale fighter jets of IAF are equipped with Meteor, which offers significant advancements over traditional air-to-air missiles especially in terms of range and effectiveness in complex combat scenarios.
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Although IAF is interested in integrating Meteor missiles on to the home-made Tejas fighter jets and Su-30MKI, the European consortium's intention to make the European fighter jets more attractive when India holds the open tender for the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) project to procure 114 fighter jets to address the dwindling fighter squadron strength of IAF appears to be the reason for this development.
Reports suggest that the consortium wants to make Gripen E and Eurofighter Typhoon, touted to be the world's most advanced swing-role combat aircraft, more desirable during the bidding process as these are equipped with Meteor.
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Designed to engage a wide array of aerial threats, from agile fighter jets to small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and cruise missiles, Meteor can reach speeds exceeding Mach 4. Billed as a "game changer", the air-to-air Meteor missile can strike with pinpoint precision from beyond the horizon in stressful situations, giving forces that are employing it a strategic edge. It is capable of engaging air targets autonomously, day or night, in all weather and even in harsh electronic warfare environments.
The inability of the IAF to integrate Meteor missiles on its fighter jets may give further push to India's indigenous Astra Mk3 air-to-air missile programme.
