The Air Launched Anti-Radiation Missile (ALARM) is designed to destroy or suppress the use of enemy ground-based air defence radar systems. It first saw service during the Gulf War and has been in the weapon inventory of the Tornado ground attack aircraft ever since. Various combinations of between two and seven missiles can be carried on each aircraft. Since its original entry into service, radars have become increasingly more sophisticated in their ability to avoid detection and attack by anti-radiation weapons such as ALARM; consequently, the missile is currently being upgraded and the improved capability ALARM is now entering service with the RAF's Tornado squadrons.
The ALARM operates by homing onto the radar energy being emitted by the target radar in one of two ways. If the target is active and emitting radiation when the missile is launched, the ALARM will fly direct to the target. However, if the targeted radar is quiet when the missile is launched, the ALARM has the ability to loiter in the area until the radar switches on and then home onto the target. Some Tornado F3s have also been modified to carry ALARMs.
Specification
Aircraft: Tornado GR4, Tornado F3
Primary Function: Air-to-ground tactical anti-radar missile
Weight: 265 kilograms (583 pounds)
Length: 4.30m (169 inches)
Guidance System: Passive Radar Homing
Brimstone is derived from the US Army Hellfire AGM-114F missile with a weapon comprising three missiles and a launcher. Powered by a rocket motor it can seek and destroy targets many kilometres from launch point. Ground acquisition and target recognition are achieved by a milli-metric wave radar seeker. Steerable fins guide the missile towards the target with final impact causing a tandem charge warhead to detonate. The first, smaller warhead nullifies reactive armour allowing the follow through charge to penetrate the main armour. It is designed to be carried by Tornado GR4/4A, Harrier and Typhoon.
Storm Shadow is an air-launched, conventionally-armed, long-range, stand-off, precision weapon, which is deployable at night or day, in most weather and operational conditions. It has been developed to attack and destroy a wide variety of static, high value 'hardened' targets such as Command and Control facilities, airfield facilities and bridges.
Storm Shadow made its operational debut during Operation TELIC, the liberation of Iraq, with No 617 Squadron in March 2003. The Storm Shadow missile embodies the following key features: very long range, fire and forget, with fully autonomous guidance, low level terrain following, stealthy profile and penetrator warhead.
Specification
Aircraft: Tornado GR4, Typhoon
Primary Function: Air-to-ground precision-guided stand-off missile
Weight: 1300 kilograms (2860 pounds)
Length: 5.10m
Guidance System: Inertial and GPS
Range: Over 250km (160 miles)
Cruising Speed: Over Mach 0.8
Linear Mode
