Platform profile · India · Ramjet-powered beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile · Indian Air Force
Meteor Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM)
StableIAF-released footage publicly showed Meteor carried by an Indian Rafale on 2026-01-26.
On 26 January 2026, IAF-released footage publicly showed a Meteor carried by an Indian Rafale. Hindustan Times later reported Meteor combat use during the 7-10 May 2025 Operation Sindoor fighting, but India has not officially confirmed firing the missile in that operation. At Aero India on 10 February 2025, MBDA explicitly described Meteor as arming India's Rafale fleet. Meteor entered the IAF inventory through the Rafale weapon package, and delivery of all 36 IAF Rafales was completed on 15 December 2022. Meteor's sustained-thrust ramjet, active-RF seeker and data-linked mid-course guidance give India a high-energy BVR option that materially strengthens air combat against advanced regional threats.
Updated 26 Jan 2026
Verified figures
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | 190 kg ↗ |
| Length | 3.7 m ↗ |
| Diameter | 178 mm ↗ |
| Indian launch platform | Dassault Rafale ↗ |
| Launch method | Rail or ejection launch ↗ |
| Propulsion | Solid-fuel variable-flow ducted rocket (ramjet) ↗ |
| Seeker | Active RF ↗ |
| Mid-course guidance | Inertial navigation with data link ↗ |
| Terminal guidance | Autonomous terminal guidance ↗ |
| Warhead | Blast-fragmentation ↗ |
| Fuzes | Impact and RF proximity ↗ |
| Network capability | Weapon data link; can use third-party target data ↗ |
Spec sources: mbda-systems.com ↗ · mbda-systems.com ↗
Changelog
Program timeline
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IAF-released Republic Day footage publicly showed a Meteor carried by an Indian Rafale for the first time.
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Hindustan Times later reported that Meteor missiles downed at least six Pakistani fighters and surveillance aircraft during the 7-10 May Operation Sindoor fighting; India has not officially confirmed that claim.
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At Aero India 2025 in Bengaluru, MBDA showcased Meteor and explicitly described it as a weapon arming India's Dassault Rafale combat aircraft.
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The 36th and final IAF Rafale landed in India, completing delivery of the 36-aircraft fleet that carries Meteor.
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The IAF formally inducted Rafales into No. 101 Squadron at Air Force Station Hasimara, creating its second Rafale squadron.
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The first five Meteor-equipped Rafales were formally inducted into the IAF's No. 17 Squadron at Ambala Air Force Station.
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India's first five Rafales landed at Ambala; the opened report identified Meteor among the weapons supplied with the aircraft.
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Indian media reported that New Delhi asked France during the defence minister's visit for accelerated delivery of at least 8-10 Meteors with the first four Rafales.
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India received its first Rafale aircraft at Merignac, France, during the formal handover ceremony.
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India signed the inter-governmental agreement for 36 Rafale fighters; specialist reporting identified Meteor as a mainstay of the aircraft's weapon package.
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