ALARM
ALARM J22 Orao |
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ALARM (Air Launched Anti-Radiation Missile) is a British anti-radiation missile designed primarily to destroy enemy radars for the purpose of Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD). It was used by the RAF and is still used by the Royal Saudi Air Force.[2] The weapon was retired by the UK at the end of 2013.[3]
History
The
In early 1986, BAe recognised that
The ALARM missile was officially retired by the UK at the end of 2013,[3] but continued to be used by the Saudis.[11]
Features
ALARM is a fire-and-forget system, with an added loiter capability. In loiter mode, ALARM will, when launched, climb to an altitude of 13,000 metres (43,000 ft). If the target radar shuts down, the missile will deploy a parachute and descend slowly until the radar lights up. The missile will then fire a secondary motor to attack the target.[12]
Combat use
ALARM has been used in the following conflicts:
- 1991 Gulf War (Operation Granby), during which 121 missiles were used.[13]
- Kosovo War (Operation Allied Force), during which 6 missiles were used.[14]
- 2011 Libya (Operation Ellamy).[15]
- 2015 Yemen.[17]
Operators
Current operators
Former operators
Specifications
- Primary Function: Suppression of Enemy Air Defence
- Contractor: MBDA
- Power Plant: Bayern Chemie two stage solid propellant rocket motors
- Length: 4.24 m
- Diameter: 23 cm
- Wing Span: 73 cm
- Launch Weight: 268 kg
- Speed: 2455 km/h (supersonic)
- Warhead: high-explosive
- Range: 93 km
- Fuse: Laser Proximity
- Guidance system: Pre-programmed/passive radar seeker
- Unit Cost: undisclosed
- Date Deployed: 1990
- User: UK (RAF)
- Tornado GR.4
- Tornado F3: fitted in time for 2003 Gulf War, receiving designation Tornado EF3
- Weapon has been "fit checked" on other RAF aircraft, such as the Jaguar. Due to its relatively large weight it is not suited to the entire RAF fleet.
- Also was expected to be usable on the Eurofighter Typhoon, but this requirement was deleted.[18]
See also
References
- ^ "ALARM, fas.org".
- ^ "Saudis review F.3 air-defence role". Flight International. Reed Business Publishing. 25 December 1991.
- ^ a b Scott, Richard (21 January 2014). "UK retires ALARM missile". IHS Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ^ a b Bloom, Bridget (16 May 1983). "Thatcher to resolve anti-radar missile row". Financial Times.
- ^ "British Select Alarm Missile Over HARM". Aviation Week & Space Technology. McGraw-Hill. 8 July 1983.
- ^ Bloom, Bridget (30 July 1983). "Missile manufacturers bid for UK navy deal". Financial Times.
- ^ Buchan, David (20 July 1987). "BAe Cancels Missile Deal With Royal Ordnance". Financial Times.
- ^ "British Aerospace Delays Missile Program". Aviation Week & Space Technology. McGraw-Hill. 21 September 1987.
- ^ Evans, Michael (18 March 1988). "Missile bill for RAF up £150 million". The Times. Times Newspapers.
- ^ Flight International 1990
- ^ UK-Supplied Precision Weapons Prove Popular in Saudi-Led Yemen Campaign - Defensenews.com, 17 October 2016
- ^ "1987 | 1575 | Flight Archive". www.flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015.
- ^ "RAF Tornados begin Yugoslavia operations from Corsican base". Aerospace Daily & Defense Report. The McGraw-Hill Companies. 3 June 1999.
- ^ Cordesman, Anthony H (2000). The Lessons and Non-Lessons of the Air and Missile Campaign in Kosovo. p. 339.
- ^ a b "RAF Weapons: Long-Range-Air-to-Surface Weapons". The Royal Air Force. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ^ "Royal Air Force Dropped More Than 400 Enhanced Paveway Bombs During OIF". Defense Daily. 8 July 2003. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
- ^ "Yemen: Armed Conflict:Written question - 46338". UK Parliament. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
- ^ Major Projects Report 2008, page 149(155) Archived 5 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine. UK Ministry of Defence, 2008.
External links
- RAF: ALARM description
- Bayern-Chemie—Development and production of a rocket motor used by ALARM. More than 1,200 produced
- Matra-BAe Dynamics ALARM at Eurofighter Typhoon—a brief history of ALARM
- RAF Weapons at armedforces.co.uk