According to the wiki↓ (since it’s a wiki, there’s a possibility it’s not accurate)
In January 2014, the defence ministry announced that funds had been allocated towards the development of the F3R standard. The standard includes the integration of the Meteor BVR missile, among other weapons and software updates.[65][66] The standard was validated in 2018.[67]
Development work started on the F4 standard in 2019.[68] The design received radar and sensor upgrades that facilitate the detection of airborne stealth targets at long range, as well as improved capabilities in the helmet-mounted display. With improved communications equipment, it is also more effective in network-centric warfare. Flight tests were conducted starting in 2021 and the first F4-standard aircraft was delivered in 2023.[68][69] Previous aircraft will be upgraded to the standard, with a further 30 aircraft to be ordered in 2023.[68]
The total programme cost, as of FY2013, was around €45.9 billion,[70] which translated to a unit programme cost of approximately €160.5 million. This figure takes in account improved hardware of the F3 standard, and which includes development costs over a period of 40 years, including inflation.[71] The unit flyaway price as of 2010 was €101.1 million for the F3+ version.[72]
The F5 standard will have more powerful engines, carry the ASN4G hypersonic nuclear missile, RBE2 XG radar, improved survivability and data links, and will be accompanied by an unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) weighing more than ten metric tons (9.8 long tons; 11 short tons).[73][74][75]
On the image just before the impact we can see TTI - time to impact which is still not present on our rafales in game btw.
And, the bomb is also flagged like a friendly IFF mark which is interesting
This is an abysmal take, it’s been proven to cruise from Mach 4.5-5, this puts it in the realms of R37M and R-33, AMRAAM and MICA wouldn’t even compare in terms of Time to target since METEOR will cruise at this speed for tens of seconds before then gliding
It uses a ramjet. The optimal operational speed for ramjet is anywhere from Mach 4 to Mach 5 approximately.
Following the brochure below, comparing probably to the AMRAAM, maybe MICA (doesn’t really state what missile the meteor is compared to), it would probably put the Meteor at roughly Mach 4 cruising speed, maybe a bit lower, not Mach 4.5 (with MICA having a peak speed of Mach 4.5, the AMRAAM right around Mach 4, and their peak speed being higher than the meteor)
Tho, with its speed being on average much higher than normal AMRAAM, you can expect the time to target above say 30km to be much better than regular AMRAAM, and probably still similar to long range missiles like the PL15 and AIM260 at their max range
so,… 2022 and 2024, not 2025
but still not active.
apart that: Germany doesn’t need to buy F-35 to get AIM-120D already, but it seems that they never ordered AIM-120D, and sticked to the AIM-120C-8 variants,… and that there is only studies for the AIM-120D-3 procurement alongside F-35’s
