AGM-88 HARM

AGM-88 HARM
source
Name	AGM-88 HARM
Caption	An AGM-88 HARM missile on display.
Type	Anti-radiation missile
Origin	United States
Used by	United States Navy, United States Air Force, German Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Ukrainian Air Force
Manufacturer	Texas Instruments, Raytheon Technologies
Unit cost	$284,000 (1999)
Production date	1983–present
Service	1985–present
Engine	Thiokol dual-thrust solid-fuel rocket
Weight	360 kg (794 lb)
Length	4.1 m (13.5 ft)
Diameter	25.4 cm (10.0 in)
Wingspan	1.1 m (3.6 ft)
Speed	Supersonic
Range	>148 km (80+ nmi)
Guidance	Passive radar homing
Launch platform	F/A-18 Hornet, F-16 Fighting Falcon, EA-6B Prowler, EA-18G Growler, Panavia Tornado, F-4 Phantom II

AGM-88 HARM. The AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) is a tactical, air-to-surface missile designed to seek and destroy enemy radar-equipped air defense systems. Developed by the United States Navy and produced initially by Texas Instruments, it entered service in the mid-1980s and became a cornerstone of Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) missions for NATO forces. Its passive homing seeker allows it to target emissions from a variety of radar types, including those associated with surface-to-air missile sites and anti-aircraft artillery.

Development and Design

The HARM program was initiated in the 1970s to replace the earlier AGM-45 Shrike and AGM-78 Standard ARM, seeking greater speed, range, and a more capable seeker. The project was managed by the Naval Air Systems Command with significant design work by Texas Instruments. The missile's key component is its broadband passive seeker head, capable of detecting, classifying, and prioritizing emissions from a wide array of radar frequencies used by threats like the S-75 Dvina, S-125 Neva/Pechora, and later systems. Its guidance system is programmed with an extensive threat library, enabling it to remain lethal even if a targeted radar shuts down, using its last known location and inertial guidance.

Operational History

The AGM-88 HARM saw its first combat use in 1986 during Operation El Dorado Canyon, the United States Air Force bombing of Libya, launched from F/A-18 Hornet aircraft. It was used extensively during the Gulf War in 1991, where it played a critical role in degrading the Iraqi Air Defense network, with launches from platforms like the F-4G Wild Weasel and EA-6B Prowler. The missile has been employed in numerous subsequent conflicts, including NATO operations in the Bosnian War, the Iraq War, and Operation Allied Force in Kosovo. Most recently, it has been supplied to the Ukrainian Air Force for use against Russian air defense systems during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, integrated onto modified MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-27 aircraft.

Variants and Upgrades

The basic AGM-88A was followed by the AGM-88B, which featured improved software. The AGM-88C introduced a larger warhead and enhanced countermeasures. A significant leap came with the AGM-88D, which incorporated Global Positioning System (GPS) guidance for improved accuracy in coordinate-seeking modes. The current production standard is the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM), developed by ATK and now produced by Northrop Grumman, which adds an active millimeter-wave radar terminal seeker and an ins data link for in-flight target updates. The latest evolution is the AGM-88G AARGM-ER (Extended Range), which features a new rocket motor, airframe, and enhanced capabilities for the F-35 Lightning II.

Technical Specifications

The HARM is powered by a Thiokol (later Northrop Grumman) dual-thrust solid-propellant rocket motor, enabling supersonic speeds. It carries a high-explosive blast-fragmentation warhead weighing approximately 66 kg, triggered by a laser proximity fuze and impact fuze. The missile's guidance section houses the passive radar homing seeker and a digital computer. Key performance metrics include a launch weight of roughly 360 kg, a length of 4.1 meters, and an operational range in excess of 148 kilometers, though exact figures are classified.

Operational Use and Tactics

The primary tactical role of the HARM is SEAD, often executed by dedicated aircraft like the EA-18G Growler or former F-4G Wild Weasel. Pilots can employ the missile in several modes: Pre-Briefed (PB) for attacking known coordinates; Target of Opportunity (TOO) for reacting to active emitters; and Self-Protect (SP) for breaking a radar lock on the launch aircraft. Integration with advanced sensor pods like the AN/ASQ-213 HARM Targeting System on the F-16 Fighting Falcon allows for precise emitter location. Successful HARM employment often involves coordinated tactics with other assets, such as Standoff Land Attack Missile launches or strikes by B-2 Spirit bombers, to overwhelm and destroy integrated air defense systems.

Category:Anti-radiation missiles of the United States Category:Air-to-surface missiles of the United States Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1980s