Iris-T vs Meteor
The Iris-T and the Meteor are both Air-to-Air missiles. The Meteor has a range of 200 km — 8.0x the Iris-T's 25 km. The Iris-T reaches 3,704 km/h vs 4,900 km/h for the Meteor. Launch weight is 87 kg for the Iris-T vs 190 kg for the Meteor. The Iris-T uses Imaging infrared homing guidance, while the Meteor relies on Inertial guidance, mid-course update via datalink, terminal active radar homing. Unit cost is $0.47M for the Iris-T vs $2M for the Meteor. The Iris-T entered service 11 years before the Meteor (2005 vs 2016).
| German air-to-air missile, entered service in 2005, uses imaging infrared homing for guidance. | |
| Origin | 🇩🇪 Germany |
| Category | Air-to-Air |
| Type | Infrared-guided air-to-air missile |
| Manufacturer | Diehl BGT |
| Service year | 2005 |
| Number produced | 5,000 units |
| Estimated unit price | $0.5 million |
| European air-to-air missile, entering service in 2016, uses active radar homing for terminal guidance. | |
| Origin | 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇫🇷 France, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇸🇪 Sweden |
| Category | Air-to-Air |
| Type | Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile |
| Manufacturer | MBDA, Saab, Bayern-Chemie et Inmize |
| Service year | 2016 |
| Number produced | -- units |
| Estimated unit price | $2 million |
| Range | 25.0 km ◉ |
| Maximum speed | Mach 3.0 ◉ |
| Weight | 87 kg ◉ |
| Warhead | 11.5 kg |
| Length | 2.94 m ◉ |
| Diameter | 127 mm ◉ |
| Guidance | Imaging infrared homing |
| Warhead type | High Explosive / Fragmentation |
| Range | 200.0 km ◉ |
| Maximum speed | Mach 4.0 ◉ |
| Weight | 190 kg ◉ |
| Warhead | -- kg |
| Length | 3.65 m ◉ |
| Diameter | 178 mm ◉ |
| Guidance | Inertial guidance, mid-course update via datalink, terminal active radar homing |
| Warhead type | High explosive blast-fragmentation |
Performance Radar Chart
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has longer range, the Iris-T or Meteor?
The Meteor has a longer range at 200 km compared to the Iris-T's 25 km.
Which is faster, the Iris-T or Meteor?
The Meteor is faster with a maximum speed of Mach 4.0 compared to the Iris-T's Mach 3.0.
Which has a larger warhead, the Iris-T or Meteor?
The Iris-T carries a larger warhead at 11 kg compared to the Meteor's 0 kg.
Which is heavier, the Iris-T or Meteor?
The Meteor is heavier at 190 kg compared to the Iris-T's 87 kg.
Which is longer, the Iris-T or Meteor?
The Meteor is longer at 3.65 meters compared to the Iris-T's 2.94 meters.
What guidance systems do the Iris-T and Meteor use?
The Iris-T uses Imaging infrared homing guidance while the Meteor uses Inertial guidance, mid-course update via datalink, terminal active radar homing guidance.
Which entered service first, the Iris-T or Meteor?
The Iris-T entered service first in 2005, 11 years before the Meteor which entered service in 2016.