MAR-1

MAR-1
Type Anti-radiation missile (ARM)
Place of origin  Brazil
Service history
Used by Brazil and Pakistan
Production history
Manufacturer Mectron
Produced 2012 (scheduled)[1]
Specifications
Weight 586.4 pounds (266.0 kg)[1]
Length 12.7 feet (3.9 m)[1]
Diameter 9.1 inches (23 cm)[1]
Warhead High-explosive
Warhead weight 90 kilograms (200 lb)
Detonation
mechanism
 Laser/contact proximity fuse
Engine Rocket motor
Operational
range
 60 to 100km[2]
Guidance
system
 Passive radar homing, home-on-jam, 800 MHz to 20 GHz
Launch
platform

Surface-Launched[3] and
Air-Launched:

MAR-1 is an air-to-surface(ASM) and surface-to-surface(SSM) anti-radiation missile (ARM) with INS/GPS capability under development by Brazil's Mectron and the Aerospace Technology and Science Department (Departamento de Ciência e Tecnologia Aeroespacial, DCTA) of the Brazilian Air Force, it is designed to suppress enemy air defenses (SEAD) by targeting surveillance radars and fire-control radars.[4]

Development and design

MAR-1 Modules
MAR-1 Missile Guidance Unit (MGU)

Development began in 1997 [5] and was kept under tight secrecy, for many years the weapon's manufacturers refused to acknowledge its existence.[6]

Captive and certification flight tests were performed in December 2008, in order to evaluate the fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) module. This module, consisting of three interferometric fiber optic gyroscopes that are part of the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), was developed indigenously by the Institute for Advanced Studies(Instituto de Estudos Avançados, IEAv).[7] The missile proximity fuse is provided by the Brazilian firm Opto Eletronica.[8]

Until April 2012, over 20 guided-missile testing shots have been carried out on AMX aircraft.[1]

The missile is guided by a Brazilian-developed passive anti-radiation seeker designed to target different types of land-based and sea-based[3] radars with different modes, including high power surveillance radars, low power mobile radars and radars used by surface-to-air missile systems. Enemy radars can be targeted by the missile independently or with targeting data from the launch aircraft's electronic warfare systems, such as the radar warning receiver. The missile has full ECCM capability and uses passive guidance on pre-programmed self-defense (reactive mode) or opportunity used primarily for area suppression or attack of unexpected targets.[9] In order to improve survivability, the missile's airframe is constructed from composite materials to reduce its radar cross-section.[5]

In 1998 the program was initiated to develop an anti-radiation missile to equip the aircraft A-1M of FAB is expected for the end of 2008 excellent development. Since the beginning of the program was conducted by DCTA (Aerospace Technology and Science Department), along with the company Mectron, also in Sao Jose dos Campos, and is currently in testing phase. According to disclosure of the FAB, would have been the tests with the separation of aircraft A-1B LSPI (Institute Pesquissa and Flight Test) DCTA. The simulated scenario analysis showed that the search head of the SEA-1 Is sble to detect a low-power radar (if a director shooting EDT-FILA) at short distances greater than 50 km. During this phase of development it is, it was found that one of the limitations to the use of MAR-1 is the definition of distance-aircraft radar parameters essential for a successful launch. This may have led the developers to re-evaluate some concepts. The major difficulty was encountered the lack of a national platform girométrica (navigation system that "flies" the missile while it searches for the target during flight) available for the missile. Such technology is susceptible to embargo for both political and strategic motives. This required the project, almost starting from scratch, the block Girométrico Miniature Fiber Optic with three orthogonal axes to provide the necessary on-board computer information from the accelerometers, ensuring accuracy for the missile. The design of this subsystem was financed by FINEP (Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos) and conducted by IEAv (Institute of Advanced Studies of DCTA) and Mectron. Apparently it was completed. Another obstacle arose in 1999 When the Brazilian government tried to make the purchase of spiral antennas and some other systems for the development of the search head of the MAR-1 in a Las Vegas manufacturer, but the U.S. government banned the sale, claiming that "in is interesting for the American defense Brazil Introducing anti-radiation weapons in this region.[10] "Faced with this obstacle, the DCTA found himself with only one alternative: to develop locally seeker head.[10] This subsystem was developed and then tested with simulated emissions from a TS-100 + Systems Excalibur (0.5 to 18 GHz) and HS-125 aircraft of the flight test division of the CTA, we know that event was studied by the FAB installing sensors in similar patrol aircraft P-95 Bandeirante Patrulha.[10]

In November 2012 it was reported that an update to the missile's software was had been applied and the missile was undergoing final flight tests on an A-1/AMX strike aircraft.[11]

In December 2008 the Brazilian government approved the sale of 100 MAR-1 missiles to the Pakistan Air Force in a contract worth $108 million.[6] In April 2013 it was reported that Mectron had finished integrating the MAR-1 with Pakistani Mirage III/V strike aircraft. Training rounds of the MAR-1 missile were also delivered along with equipment for mission planning, logistics and support. Mectron is to finish developmental testing and deliver the first operational missile rounds in 2014 to Pakistan as well as Brazil. [12]

In October 2013, there appeared a likely interest in UAE Armed Forces purchase of a batch of missiles.[13]

Operators

 Brazil
 Pakistan

See also

Similar missiles
Bibliography


  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Wall (2012), p. 80
  2. ↑ "MAR-1 está integrado ao JF-17 do Paquistão".
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Mercado em 3 continente" (in Portuguese). Tecnologia & Defesa. 25 October 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  4. ↑ Morais, Ana; Filho, José; Mallaco, Lais; Brito, Márcia (2011). Relatório de Atividades: 2010 (Report) (in Portuguese). Brazilian Aeronautics and Space Institute. p. 67. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Air-Launched-Weapons/MAR-1-Anti-Radiation-Missile-Brazil.html
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/Brazil-to-Sell-MAR-1-SEAD-Missiles-to-Pakistan-05182/
  7. ↑ "Blocos girométricos desenvolvidos no IEAv são testados no Míssil MAR-1" (in Portuguese). Brazilian Air Force. 22 December 2008. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  8. ↑ Bonilla, Javier (13 December 2013). "La brasileña Mectron comienza a producir a nivel industrial el misil anti radar MAR-1 exportado a Paquistán" (in Spanish). Defesa.com. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  9. ↑ Roberto, Godoy (5 December 2008). "Exportação de mísseis mostra novas metas do Plano de Defesa" (in Portuguese). O Estado de São Paulo. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Crespo (2006), p. 139
  11. ↑ http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/brazilian-air-force-official-details-missile-developments-378680/
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Hewson, Robert (17 April 2013). "Mectron's MAR-1 to be operational in Pakistan next year". Jane's Defence Weekly. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  13. ↑ http://www.tecnodefesa.com.br/materia.php?materia=1362