Cause for ALARM?

[Lowe Flieger]

RAF retires ALARM missile ? FighterControl ? Home to the Military Aviation Enthusiast (http://www.fightercontrol.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=287&t=92409)

The link relates to a report on another website quoting a Janes article about retirement of the Alarm missile from the RAF inventory. I didn't really know what to think of this: is it another shocking retirement in the pursuit of economies before requirements or is it the timely passing of a system that has had its day?

What do the knowledgeable folks think about this?

(I couldn't find a reference to this already having been raised on PPRuNe, but if I have duplicated a post, apologies.)

LF

[cobalt42]

Motors/Warheads Life-ex? :ugh:

Same happened with Sea Eagle...

[chopper2004]

Thought ALARM went donkeys ago, for the sake of AGM-65 on the then JFH and for the likes of Brimstone and Storm Shadow?

Not even too sure if HARM is used / carried much nowadays across the pond?

Cheers

[Rhino power]

Not even too sure if HARM is used / carried much nowadays across the pond?

HARM (AGM-88) is still very much in use 'across the pond'... AGM-45 and AGM-78 are long gone however.

Wasn't ALARM supposed to be replaced by the Dual Mode Brimstone or some such?

-RP

[Martin the Martian]

I wouldn't be too happy trying to take out a SAM radar site at a range of seven miles with Brimstone.

I believe the SA-6 has a range of 15 miles, while the SA-2 is about 28 miles.

Something else for us to rely on our 'coalition partners' for, no doubt.

[GOLF_BRAVO_ZULU]

Wasn't the true value of ALARM it's "loiter" capability?

[Dan Winterland]

Just hangin' around.

[newt]

If no threat detected then it deployed a parachute!! Very Mickey Mouse!

[GOLF_BRAVO_ZULU]

If it kept the "lights" off long enough to press home an attack, surely help from Mickey Mouse was better than getting Donald Ducked?

[Navaleye]

By all accounts I heard it was a good piece of kit. Why not refurb them? Must cheaper than buying new.

[Clad]

Another capability gap! No replacement!

Just wonder about a 'no fly' zone example like in Iraq - where patrolling RAF carried (alarm) in case of being targeted. By the time someone else came in to take out the SAM they will have moved. No fixed SAM loitering in a war zone!

Mind you fits well with no carriers, MPA aircraft lists goes on really. As much as the falklands example is now a bit overdone.... the UK is really going to struggle if we have to go it alone again.

[cokecan]

i hear/read that SPEAR CAP3 is supposed to be the 'replacement' - anyone got any idea as to whether it will be available before the end of the decade?

[chopper2004]

I recall seeing in Paul Beaver's UK Modern Military Missiles book, on the bit about ALARM, there was a photo of a mock ALARM missile on a RN Lynx.

(from above book)

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g209/longranger/IMG_2910_zps46906bf8.jpg

I don't recall any trials, but maybe I was wrong, how far did the FAA look into arming the likes of the Lynx with this missile? Or was it a BAe publicity shot?

Cheers

[Not_a_boffin]

By all accounts I heard it was a good piece of kit. Why not refurb them? Must cheaper than buying new.

I refer you to this...

http://i1.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article1990350.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/Liam-Byrnes-note-1990350.jpg

Which is swiftly followed by Defence Planning Assumption 1. "Someone Else" will provide Capability [X].

[NURSE]

given current defence thinking not surprised the Taliban don't have Radar guided missiles so we don't need them!