Yes, you have a range advantage with the METEOR, but for acceleration, the ASTER 30 would be absolutely monstrous; some sources claim that maximum speed is reached in a few seconds.
And the final guidance system and the explosive charge would really make it a very interesting missile (I say that jokingly; I can’t imagine it being installed on the Rafale at all).
Acceleration is indeed insane. I’m just extrapolating the claimed 100km or so for a ground launched missile to an air launched one. I guess it would more than double it, but it would still fall short of the claimed meteor range
Maybe, it has the ability to go to 2 nations with one nation getting the production model, realistically it depends on if gaijin figures the prototype is worth adding versus the finished model which only one nation gets. The image youve posted is the finished model of the NASAM HML created by Norway.
It needs a towed radar, realistically it has enough power to tow its own systems but the project was dropped due to lack of interest from the US and money problems. Norway finished the program a few years later since it fits into their military doctrine. Its definitely a neat vehicle and it can mount aim 9X BLK 2
My guess it’s that it’s because of the insane acceleration of the missile. If the main motor was slower burning, then the range would be higher, since from an air launched platform, you don’t need the same pure acceleration.
I guess the AIM174 also features similar modification to the main acceleration charge to get such a high estimated range.
Also, I was completely extrapolating the range and it might end up with more range is we just slapped it to a plane flying Mach 1 at 30000 feet