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| Jf-17 armed with Brazilian MAR-1 Anti Radiation Missile. |
Integration confirmed for Brazil's MAR-1 missile
Robert Hewson Air-Launched Weapons Editor - London
can confirm that Pakistan has taken delivery of the Brazilian MAR-1
anti-radiation missile and is integrating the weapon on its PAC JF-17
Thunder multirole combat aircraft as well as upgraded Dassault Mirage
III and V ROSE fighters.
The MAR-1 is an air-launched defence suppression weapon developed as an
independent national programme by Mectron in co-operation with the
Brazilian Air Force (FAB).
In 2008 a MAR-1 order from Pakistan for 100 missiles valued at EUR85
million (USD126 million) was announced by the Brazilian government,
which provided export credit support for the deal. Reports from Pakistan
suggested that deliveries started in 2009.
Mectron would not comment on the MAR-1 programme except to say that
"we have an export client and we have delivered missiles to that
client". However, during the April 2011 Latin American Aerospace and
Defence (LAAD) show in Rio de Janeiro, learnt that an active
integration effort is now underway for both the ROSE Mirage and JF-17 in
Pakistan Air Force (PAF) service.
This confirms statements made during the 2010 Farnborough Airshow by the
PAF's JF-17 Programme Manager, Air Vice Marshall Mohammad Arif, who
identified the MAR-1 as a future JF-17 weapon.
The JF-17 is a co-development project between Pakistan and China. It is
now in full production at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC),
Kamra, where about 30 aircraft have been assembled. In April 2011 the
PAF stood up its second JF-17 unit (No 26 Squadron) and a third unit
(No.4 Squadron) will follow later this year.
Integration of the MAR-1 with the JF-17 shows that Pakistan has a
well-structured programme to expand the capability of the aircraft
beyond its Chinese roots. The MAR-1 is the second non-Chinese weapon
that the JF-17 is known to be adopting after the Hafr runway penetration
bomb. Pakistan has also explored the possibility of adding French
avionics (including radar) and weapons (including the Mica air-to-air
missile) to the aircraft, but PAF JF-17 programme officials told that
those options have been shelved in favour of "less politically
complicated projects".
Once operational, the MAR-1 will be the PAF's only modern anti-radiation
weapon and a significant boost to its combat capabilities. The missile
has several operational modes, but is typically used in a pre-programmed
attack against known emitting targets in a lock-on-after-launch
engagement. Mectron has developed a dedicated mission planning system
for such operations.
The MAR-1 is likely to operate, at least initially, with a
'missile-as-sensor' function, meaning that the weapon's own wideband
radio frequency seeker is the primary sensor for emitter location and
targeting. The JF-17's Chinese developers certainly have the expertise
to produce a more capable emitter location system in the future. The
MAR-1 can also use supplementary targeting information from the JF-17's
radar warning receivers.
Pakistan has a growing number of electronic intelligence (ELINT)
systems with which it can build an electronic order of battle of hostile
emitters to support MAR-1 targeting. This includes the highly capable
HES-21 ELINT system carried by the PAF's recently delivered Erieye
airborne early warning and control aircraft.
The MAR-1 is fully MIL-STD-1553 and -1760 databus compatible. For non
databus-equipped aircraft a standalone integration using a dedicated
fire-control unit and display can be fitted in the cockpit. That is the
approach adopted for Brazil's non-upgraded Embraer AMX (A-1) attack
aircraft. The MAR-1 has yet to enter formal FAB service, but
understands that qualification flight testing in Brazil will conclude by
the end of 2011.
A full-scale model of Mectron's MAR-1 anti-radiation missile, which
will add a significant new capability to Pakistan's JF-17 fighters.
