ARMAT
Anti-radar missile
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
ARMAT is a French anti-radar missile. It is a development of the Anglo-French Martel. It was adopted by the French Air Force and exported to several other countries, and has been used in combat by Iraq.
| ARMAT | |
|---|---|
| Type | anti-radar missile |
| Place of origin | France |
| Service history | |
| Used by | France Egypt Kuwait Iraq |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 550 kg (1,210 lb)[1] |
| Length | 4.15 m (13 ft 7 in)[1] |
| Diameter | 0.40 m (16 in) (body)[1] |
| Wingspan | 1.20 m (3 ft 11 in)[1] |
| Warhead | 160 kg (350 lb) Semi-Armour Piercing HE |
| Engine | solid fuel[broken anchor] rocket |
Operational range | 40–120 km (25–75 mi)[1] |
| Maximum speed | Mach 0.9 (supersonic in dive) |
Guidance system | Passive radar homing |
Launch platform | Aircraft |
Development
Martel was developed as a joint Anglo-French programme in two versions, a TV-guided version, which was only used by the British, and an anti-radar version, which was used by both countries[2][3] When it came to replace Martel, Britain and France pursued separate programmes, with British Aerospace developing the Sea Eagle anti-ship missile (which used a similar airframe to Martel but powered by a turbojet and with active radar homing and the smaller ALARM anti-radar missile.[4][5] To meet France's requirements for an anti-radar missile, French company Matra developed the Martel into the ARMAT (Anti-Radar Matra),[6][7] with work beginning in 1979.[8] This used the same airframe as the Martel, but with a higher impulse rocket motor,[6] and an improved homing seeker and electronics.[7]
ARMAT is reported to be provided with several interchangeable homing heads, covering differing frequency ranges (from L- to X band) depending on the likely targets,[7] and can be launched from both high or low altitude,[7] with a range of from 40 km (25 mi; 22 nmi) to 120 km (75 mi; 65 nmi) reported.[6] The missile has a high subsonic speed, and is supersonic in a dive.[6] It carries a warhead of 150 kg (330 lb)[7] to 160 kg (350 lb).[6]
Operational history
Iraq took an early interest in the development of ARMAT,[9] and used the missile during the Iran–Iraq War,[7] entering Iraqi service in 1982.[10] ARMAT entered service with the French Air Force in 1984.[7]
ARMAT has been cleared for carriage on the Mirage F.1, Mirage 2000, SEPECAT Jaguar fighters and attack aircraft and the Bréguet 1150 Atlantic maritime patrol aircraft.[7] In 1988, an improved version, called MARS, was proposed.[7] French ARMATs may have been upgraded in the early 1990s.[7]