MBDA unveils its SPEAR EW missile to eliminate enemy anti-aircraft defenses

The removal of anti-air defenses is recognized as being the weak point of the European air forces, which have neitherdedicated jamming support aircraft, like the American EG-18 Growler, or air-to-ground munitions specialized in this European-style mission. At least that was the case until now, since the European missile maker MBDA in partnership with the Italian Leonardo, presented theeur new SPEAR EW missile (Electronical Warfare), intended primarily to equip aircraft Typhoon Europeans.

Until today, SEAD (Search and Destroy) missions intended to eliminate enemy anti-aircraft defenses were entrusted to aircraft capable of using the American-made AGM-88 HARM anti-radar missile. Raytheon's missile, an evolution of the AGM-45 Shrike which made its debut during the Vietnam War, can destroy a radar 150 km away, has been qualified on F16, F18, Tornado and Typhoon, and was acquired in Europe by Germany, Spain, Italy and Greece. To find its target, the HARM has a wide-band passive radar seeker, capable of tracing the electromagnetic beam of a radar to its source to destroy it. Even if the radar stopped transmitting, the missile would continue to target the last known position and can therefore destroy the source, unless it was moved quickly.

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