Martel (missile)
| Martel (AS.37) | |
|---|---|
RAF Museum Cosford. | |
| Type | Standoff anti-radar missile (AS 37) / air-to-surface (AJ.168) |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom/France |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Royal Air Force Armée de l'Air |
| Wars | Misznay–Schardin plate |
Detonation mechanism | proximity fuze |
| Engine | two stage solid propellant rocket motors |
Operational range | 60 km (37 mi) max (estimated, and depending on the launch conditions) |
| Maximum speed | Mach 0.9 + |
Guidance system | passive radar homing, video guided |
Launch platform | fixed wing aircraft |
The Martel is an Anglo-French missile. The name Martel is a contraction of Missile, Anti-Radiation, Television, referring to the guidance options. There are two variants, the passive radar anti-radiation missile version, AS.37, and the television guided anti-ship missile, AJ 168.
Although displayed alongside a Mirage, the Mirage only carried the AS.37
The aircraft that used these missiles were the
It was possible to adapt the Martel ARM to be used against different wavelength radars. It was an improvement compared to the early AGM-78 Standard ARM missiles, that had only one narrow-band homing sensor. But the ARM sensor was only selectable on the ground, not in flight and so before taking-off it was necessary to know what kind of radar was being attacked.
The UK has used both types, the French only the radar-equipped variant. The Martel fuselage forms the basis for the
Operational history
The Martel was used by France against
On 7 March, following an air raid by Libyan MiG-21s and MiG-23s, another strike was mounted by ten Martel-equipped Jaguars from EC 4/11 (or more likely EC 3/3 "Ardennes" as that unit was the Martel specialist) against the radar installations at Ouadi Doum air base.[6]
Operators
Current operators
Former operators
- French Air Force
References
- ^ "Missile Forecast, July 2002 - MARTEL (AS.37/AJ.168)/Sea Eagle (P.3T/P.5T) - Archived 7/2003". forecastinternational.com. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
- ^ Carpentier, Rene. "COMAERO, Tome 3 - Missiles Tactiques" (PDF). Eurosae.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
- ^ "Defense & Security Intelligence & Analysis: IHS Jane's - IHS". Articles.janes.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
- ^ "Ouadi-Doum". Vieillestiges.com. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
- ^ Cooper, Tom, "Libyan Wars, 1980-1989, Part 6", ACIG Journal, archived from the original on 2013-08-21
- ^ "Squadron Service - Armée de l'Air". targetlock. Archived from the original on 2012-04-29. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
Further reading
- War Machine Encyclopedia, Limited Publishing 1984, Pgs. 1445-46 (Italian version printed by De Agostini)
- Sgarlato, Nico, In Volo Contro I Radar, A&D Magazine, Delta Editions, December 1990.