ARMAT

Last updated
ARMAT
Type anti-radar missile
Place of originFrance
Service history
Used byFrance
Egypt
Kuwait
Iraq
Specifications
Mass550 kg (1,210 lb) [1]
Length4.15 m (13 ft 7 in) [1]
Diameter0.40 m (16 in) (body) [1]
Wingspan1.20 m (3 ft 11 in) [1]
Warhead160 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

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.

Contents

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]

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