Missile Alarm

The Ministry of Defence initiated the selection process for a new anti-radiation missile in late 1982. The system was selected in July 1983 to fulfill an initial requirement for 750 missiles. Development encountered delays due to difficulties with the original motor design, leading to the integration of an alternative two-stage solid-fuel rocket motor in 1987. The missile entered service in 1990.

The Air Launched Anti-Radiation Missile (ALARM) is a fire-and-forget system designed for the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD). It utilizes a pre-programmed passive radar seeker to home in on enemy radar emissions. An operational feature is its loiter mode; upon launch, the missile climbs to a high altitude. If the target radar ceases emissions, the missile deploys a parachute and descends until the radar reactivates. Once a signal is detected, a secondary motor fires to execute the attack. The missile is equipped with a high-explosive warhead triggered by a laser proximity fuse.

The system was operated by the Royal Air Force and remains in service with the Royal Saudi Air Force. Operational platforms include the Tornado GR.4, Tornado F3 (designated EF3 in the SEAD role), and the J22 Orao. While fit-checked for the Jaguar, it was not integrated into the wider fleet. The requirement for integration with the Eurofighter Typhoon was canceled.

Combat use began during the 1991 Gulf War, where 121 missiles were deployed. It was subsequently used in the Kosovo War, the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and the 2011 military intervention in Libya. The Royal Saudi Air Force has utilized the missile during the intervention in Yemen starting in 2015. The United Kingdom retired the system from service at the end of 2013.