ARMAT

ARMAT
File:R
Type	anti-radar missile
Place of origin	France
Service history
Used by	France Egypt Kuwait Iraq
Specifications
Mass	550 kg (1,210 lb)
Length	4.15 m (13 ft 7 in)
Diameter	0.40 m (16 in) (body)
Warhead	160 kg (350 lb) Semi-Armoured Piercing HE
Engine	solid fuel rocket
Wingspan	1.20 m (3 ft 11 in)
Operational range	40–120 km/h (25–75 mph)
Maximum speed	Mach 0.9 (supersonic in dive)
Guidance system	Passive radar homing
Launch platform	Aircraft

The ARMAT missile is a development of the Anglo-French Martel anti-radar missile. Martel was developed by British Aerospace as an anti-ship missile, while Britain adopted ALARM for new ARM missile. France instead adopted the Exocet as their anti-ship missile, and used the ARMAT as new anti-radar weapon. This missile is unusually slow and huge when compared to western anti-radar missiles, reflecting the original anti-ship task of the ancestor, the AJ.37 Martel.

ARMAT is not well known in details. It is a two stage solid propelled missile, highly subsonic, with a range up to 120 km. The powerful warhead weights 150 kg with proximity fuse and delayed impact. The ARMAT was operational since 1984. It was used as main, if not exclusive anti-radar weapon by French aviation, employed with Jaguars against Libyans during Operation Epervier. It was also used by Iraqi aviation against Iranian defences.

ARMAT is used by Mirage F.1, Mirage 2000 and some other French aircraft, but not with the new Rafale. An improved product, the MARS, was proposed in 1988. In early '90s it seems that the basic ARMAT was upgraded with better electronic systems.

References

• Friedman, Norman. The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapons Systems 1997–98. Annapolis, Naval Institute Press, 1997. ISBN 1-55750-268-4.
• Richardson, Doug. "World Missile Directory". Flight International, 1 October 1988, pp. 33–71.

External links

• http://www.deagel.com/Anti-Radiation-Missiles/Armat_a002033001.aspx
• http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Air-Launched-Weapons/ARMAT-France.html