In a significant enhancement of NATO’s air defense capabilities, the Italian Air Force has deployed its F-2000 Typhoons, now equipped with the advanced MBDA Meteor Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missiles (BVRAAM), to Romania as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Air Policing (eAP) mission. This deployment marks the first operational use of the Meteor missile by Italian Typhoons, following the completion of rigorous Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) phases.
Since early April, a detachment of four Italian Eurofighter Typhoons, supported by over 180 personnel, has been stationed at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base in Romania. This deployment, known as Task Force Air 51st Wing under the “Black Storm II” mission, follows Italy’s successful air policing mission in Lithuania, underscoring its commitment to NATO’s collective defense.
The primary objective of this mission is to safeguard Romanian airspace, particularly in the context of increased regional tensions. The Italian Typhoons operate alongside Romanian Air Force F-16s, providing a robust Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) capability to respond to potential airspace violations.
On April 29, 2025, the Italian detachment conducted its first operational scramble since achieving Full Operational Capability (FOC) on April 10. Two Typhoons were launched in coordination with Romanian F-16s in response to a potential aerial threat in the country’s northeastern sector. The mission, directed by NATO’s Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) in Torrejón and coordinated by the Control and Reporting Center (CRC) in Balotești, involved patrolling the northern border near Tulcea to locate and monitor unidentified drones approaching NATO airspace. The joint mission concluded successfully at 5 a.m. after several hours of patrol.
The MBDA Meteor missile represents a significant advancement in air-to-air combat capabilities. Developed through a collaboration among the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, and Sweden, the Meteor is designed to engage highly maneuverable targets at extended ranges beyond visual line of sight.
- Propulsion: A solid-fueled ramjet motor enables the missile to cruise at speeds over Mach 4, providing sustained thrust throughout its flight.
- Range: The missile boasts a maximum range exceeding 200 km, with a “No Escape Zone” of over 60 km, ensuring target engagement even against evasive maneuvers.
- Guidance: An advanced active radar seeker, coupled with inertial guidance and a two-way data link, allows for mid-course updates and high-precision targeting.
- Warhead: Equipped with both proximity and impact fuses, the Meteor delivers a high-explosive blast-fragmentation effect to maximize lethality.
Compared to its predecessor, the AIM-120 AMRAAM, the Meteor offers superior range, speed, and engagement envelope, making it a formidable asset in modern air combat scenarios.
The Italian Air Force’s journey to integrate the Meteor missile into its F-2000 Typhoons involved a comprehensive two-phase OT&E campaign. The first phase, conducted in 2023, focused on evaluating the missile’s integration as part of the Phase 2 Enhancement (P2E) upgrade. The second phase, completed in early 2025, included live firing exercises at the UK’s Hebrides Range, validating the missile’s performance and compatibility with the Typhoon platform.
The standard loadout for the Italian Typhoons on this deployment:
- Two external fuel tanks for extended range
- A Litening 5 targeting pod on the centerline
- Two IRIS-T infrared-guided short-range air-to-air missiles on the outer pylons
- Two Meteor missiles on the fuselage’s semi-recessed stations
This configuration ensures a balanced mix of short and long-range engagement capabilities, enhancing the aircraft’s versatility in various mission profiles.
The deployment of Meteor-equipped Italian Typhoons to Romania signifies a strategic enhancement of NATO’s air defense capabilities on its eastern flank. The integration of advanced missile systems like the Meteor into frontline aircraft ensures that NATO forces maintain a technological edge in air superiority missions.
Furthermore, this deployment underscores the importance of interoperability among NATO member states. With the Meteor missile already operational on Eurofighter Typhoons of the UK, Germany, and Spain, as well as on Rafale and Gripen fighters, the Italian integration aligns with broader Alliance efforts to standardize and modernize air combat capabilities.
As the Italian Air Force continues its deployment in Romania, the operational use of the Meteor missile will provide valuable insights into its performance in real-world scenarios. These experiences will inform future tactics, training, and potential upgrades, ensuring that NATO’s air forces remain prepared to counter evolving aerial threats.
The successful integration and deployment of the Meteor missile by the Italian Air Force represent a significant milestone in enhancing NATO’s collective defense posture, demonstrating a commitment to maintaining air superiority through technological advancement and strategic collaboration.
