ALARM stands for Air-Launched Anti-Radiation Missile designed primarily to destroy enemy radars for the purpose of Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD).

It was introduced into UK Royal Air Force Service in the early 1990s.

The missile is launched at low level near the suspected site of an enemy radar and, after launch, rapidly climbs to about 12,000 m.

At this height, a small parachute opens and the missile descends earthwards while the on-board radar searches the broadband for emissions from enemy radar.

Once a target has been identified, the motor is re-ignited and the missile makes a supersonic dive onto the target. The total RAF buy in the first manufacturing run was believed to be some 750 missiles. 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.