ARMAT

For the 2022 film, see Armat.

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]