The published ranges are actually similar, the NEZ of the Meteor is much larger according to MBDA claims, but as per former discussions, there is no consensus which Aim-120 model MBDA was using to compare. Safe to say a missile which is powered in the endgame is going to be more effective at the edges of it’s range and in a tail chase (tail aspect shot) but…..

Well actually there is a consensus, just not a unanimous one. The general consensus is 3 times the NEZ of the AIM-120C-5, because that was the one the RAF were using when Combat Aircraft wrote it in their Eurofighter Special in 2013. That may only equate to 2.X kinematic range though. Say 60km NEZ for AMRAAM at high altitude. 180km NEZ for Meteor. ~60km for speed to decay. But which is more important? Kinematic range or NEZ? And if we play the drag game fully, yes the Meteor has inlets, but it only has one set of fins as opposed to two. And just to point out, the Meteor is throttleable, it can slow down or speed up during flight to maximise success of intercept.

Pretty much agree with bring_it_on, based on the BAE SYSTEMS graphic, the Meteor has a slightly lower peak speed but it should be noted that a difference of M0.5 or less makes no difference, since both provide sufficient energy for a kill, and based on recent firing videos, the Meteor is no slouch at getting up to speed.

Does anyone know if the AMRAAM-ER is just for NASAMS, or is it planned for air launch too?

The volume constraint is for the carrier aircraft. Think at the added volume of the inlets, hence larger fins, hence heavier body (structural needs) hence larger size etc…
In the 80’s, solid propellant tech were what they were and the Ramjet road was a brilliant choice. Today, solid propellant efficiency has increased by a factor of somewhat two and today (well… next tomorrow) , dualphase propellant (solid to liquid) could even better the overall power efficiency ratio.

Think that the rocket model is the most efficient propulsion system: no external drag added, no propulsion drag, lower aero impact with lesser structural needs and, at the end, more compact missile in term of diameter.
Gone are the days of the mammoth size Genie missiles

Fins can be made fold and the UK and Japan are working on a new version of Meteor for the F-35. The inlets don’t really make the missile much wider. And if I was in a fight, I’d want the slightly thicker 6ft spear rather than two 3ft spears.

So how come:

And why the scramjet research by US, Russia, China, India etc.?

You’re making assumptions. E.g. if X individual hadn’t invented the wheel so many years ago, does that mean we still wouldn’t have a wheel today?

I think you’re making unnecessarily complicated assumptions rather than simply reading the words as they stand. In such an instance the Typhoon would be a long way back behind the F-35 anyway. I also do not see what work is being done. If both aircraft are able to communicate with the missile, then both can direct it. It’s no different to buddy-lasing fundamentally and I’m sure this capability is also in service with many over-the-horizon surface-to-surface missiles. I mean, it’s essentially a flying mobile phone, it doesn’t matter which other mobile phone talks to it, although obviously it will be encrypted.

I think it is a bit optimistic . Granting a plateform control over a Missile or weapon launched by another plateform , is definitevely something in consideration in most AF, but unless I missed something, I do not think it has been acheived even less feilded yet . “Meteor can be operated using thid party data” mean, I think , the guidance system can accept input originating from third party data , but still passed-on by the launching plateform. Or is there more evidence to suggest otherwize ?

AMRAAM has definitely been fired passively by a Typhoon at a target located by another Typhoon.

http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/unique-amraam-firing-with-eurofighter-typhoon-152790795.html

And:

http://www.mbda-systems.com/?action=force-download-attachment&attachment_id=12762

Meteor can be operated using third party data, enabling the Meteor user – the pilot – to have the most flexible weapon system.

Network enabled capability through data link

Maybe after the payment of the €100Billion BREXIT exit payment she wasn’t too far wrong on only being able to pay policemen £30 per year….

Juncker and the ever rising Brexit bill remind me of this:

I know the figure of 57% is wrong, because only 44% go to Europe in total and 5% head on to other global destinations from EU ports. And JFC, just because the wheel gets invented during a period it doesn’t mean the EU takes credit.

Security co-operation pre-dates the EU.

Since we joined the EU the manufacturing portion of GDP has dropped from 20% to 10%. The class formerly known as working is now unemployed. The EU’s the sort of thing I’m not sure I’d want to be part of even if it were free.

Technically it isn’t a ramjet though, it’s a VFDR. The propellant is solid, so no volume constraint.

Launcher exposure? Drag? Think you may be overestimating the extra drag of a few small ram intakes.