Documents
United Kingdom MBDA
SPEAR 3
Small, powered, jet-propelled precision strike missile developed for the F-35 and Typhoon to attack mobile and dispersed targets at long range, with a turbojet engine that gives it far greater reach than a glide bomb. Multiple missiles can be carried per weapons bay, letting one aircraft engage several targets per sortie.
In service since 2023 · 1 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
140
km range
0.9
Mach
10
kg warhead
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
UK export-licensed
Subject to UK SPIRE licensing (ECJU); generally available to allied states.
Channel: Government-to-government or direct
Fielded & proven
Limited · 1 operator
In service since 2023. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters. | 0.9 Mach |
|---|---|
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 140 km |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Warhead Warhead mass. Heavier generally means larger effect radius, at the cost of range. | 10 kg |
|---|---|
| Warhead type Blast-fragmentation, shaped charge (HEAT), penetrator, thermobaric or nuclear-capable. | Multi-effects blast-fragmentation/shaped-charge |
| Guidance How the weapon finds its target: inertial, GPS/GLONASS, active/semi-active radar, infrared, laser, TV, wire. | INS/GPS, Two-way datalink, Millimeter-wave radar terminal seeker |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 1.85 m |
|---|---|
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 100 kg |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Turbojet |
|---|
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 1 |
|---|
Specifications compiled from public MBDA and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
Boeing AGM-86 ALCM Frequently asked questions
What is the range of the MBDA SPEAR 3? +
The MBDA SPEAR 3 has a maximum range of 140 km.
How much does the MBDA SPEAR 3 weigh? +
The MBDA SPEAR 3 has a combat weight of 100 kg.
What is the MBDA SPEAR 3 used for? +
The MBDA SPEAR 3 is a missile typically used for deep strike, anti armor.
How many countries operate the MBDA SPEAR 3? +
The MBDA SPEAR 3 is operated by 1 countries.
Similar systems
MBDA
Brimstone
Tactical Missiles Corporation (KTRV)
PBK-500U Drel
Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS)
Nasr (Hatf-IX)
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems
Spike NLOS
Related coverage
