AGM-88 HARM
| AGM-88 HARM | |
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| General Information | |
| Type | Air-to-surface missile |
| Local name | AGM-88 HARM |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Texas Instruments , then Raytheon Corporation |
| development | Texas Instruments |
| Commissioning | 1983 |
| Working time | 1983 until today |
| Unit price | $ 284,000 $ 870,000 for AGM-88E |
| Technical specifications | |
| length | 4170 mm |
| diameter | 254 mm |
| Combat weight | 363 kg |
| span | 1120 mm |
| drive | Solid rocket engine |
| speed | 2286 km / h |
| Range | 150 km |
| Furnishing | |
| Target location | Passive radar location with home-on-jam ; Active MMW vehicle tracking in the E version. 500-20,000 MHz on AGM-88C |
| Warhead | WDU-21 / B fragmentation warhead WAU-7 / B; later WDU-37 / B, 66 kg |
| Detonator | Laser distance igniter FMU-111 / B |
| Lists on the subject | |
The AGM-88 HARM ( H igh-speed A NTI R adiation- M issile) is an air-to-surface missile , specifically for the control of ground-based radar systems has been developed. It is produced today by the US Corporation Raytheon , originally she was told by Texas Instruments develops and manufactures a while. The predecessors of the HARM were the AGM-78 Standard ARM and the AGM-45 Shrike . The US Air Force, the US Navy and the US Marine Corps received over 19,600 AGM-88 HARMs by 2000. The Bundeswehr procured around 1,000 units for the air force and navy by 1997. The unit price was around $ 317,000 in 2000.
description
The core of the steering system is a broadband radio receiver that can monitor a frequency range of 0.5–20 GHz . As soon as this receiver or the avionics of the carrier aircraft perceive the radar emissions of a SAM radar , the HARM's seeker head can be aimed at them and the rocket fired. It is now based on the electromagnetic waves emitted by the radar until the impact . The early versions of this weapon could still be irritated by switching off the radar, but later versions have an INS and / or GPS navigation unit that enable the missile to fly to the last known position of the radar system. The AGM-88E AARGM (see below), which is currently under development, can also locate and combat mobile radars after they have been switched off using an on-board active radar.
The HARM is the most important component of the so-called " Wild Weasel " tactic, which was specially developed to combat and hold down radar-guided air defense systems.
Operating modes
The HARM has four basic operating modes:
- Pre-Briefed (PB)
- In this mode, the guided missile is informed of the coordinates and the identity of the enemy radar system by the on-board avionics of the carrier aircraft before take-off. It can then be launched in a sling throw to increase the range.
- Equations-Of-Motion (EOM)
- EOM is basically an advanced PB mode. The difference is that with this method the carrier aircraft must know the distance and characteristics of the enemy radar system. This allows the HARM to fly to the target more directly and faster. However, this requires special avionics that only SEAD combat aircraft have (e.g. the ELS (Emitter Locator System) of the Tornado ECR).
- Targets Of Opportunity (TOO)
- In this mode, the seeker head of the HARM (60 ° field of view) switches to a target before it starts. This means that no complex on-board avionics is required, which makes the guided missile compatible with non-specialized platforms.
- Self Protect (SP)
- This mode is designed for the self-protection of the carrier aircraft. Here the HARM is coupled to the radar warning receiver of the carrier aircraft. If the sensors detect a radar system, the HARM is fired at it almost instantaneously after the pilot has selected it (designation) and the fire command.
variants
AGM-88A
It is equipped with a low-smoke solid rocket propulsion system and a 66 kg warhead, which disintegrates into around 25,000 steel fragments when it is ignited . The AGM-88A is often referred to as the AGM-88 Block I, because from 1986 the AGM-88 Block II was produced, which has been called the AGM-88B since 1987. Later, it was decided to only call software updates block. The missile was introduced to the US Air Force and Navy in 1983 .
AGM-88B
It uses an improved seeker head and new software (Block II). The rocket's computer hardware was also improved so that it could use the new software (Block III) that was available from 1990 onwards. In addition, the software could now also be reprogrammed shortly before an operation, which allowed a more precise adjustment to the anticipated danger situation. In the past, this process was only possible in the manufacturer's factories.
AGM-88C
From 1993 the C version of the HARM was used. The warhead has been improved, which now breaks into 12,800 tungsten fragments when it is ignited . The seeker head experienced a comprehensive increase in performance, including a wider frequency range (0.5–20 GHz), a more powerful signal processor and increased reception sensitivity. The search heads of all AGM-88C are manufactured by Texas Instruments (C-1) and Loral (C-2). Initially the rocket was shipped with the Block IV software, later two updates came out, Block V for the 88C and Block IIIB for the older 88B rockets. These updates also introduced the HOJ mode, which allows the missile to detect and combat jammers (e.g. GPS jammers ).
AGM-88D
The current update Block VI was developed in cooperation between the USA (Raytheon), Germany ( BGT ) and Italy ( Alenia ). A GPS receiver was installed so that the missile can now hit a deactivated radar more precisely. In the US armed forces, the Block VI variant is known as AGM-88D. Since Germany and Italy only have the old B versions, the rocket runs there under the name AGM-88B Block IIIB.
AGM-88E AARGM
The AARGM (Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile) is an improved Block VI missile that, in addition to GPS, now uses an MWR (millimeter wave radar) seeker head developed by Alliant Techsystems . This also makes it possible to combat mobile radar-based air defense systems (e.g. 96K6 Panzir ), even if they switch off their radar and move. The position of the target can be transmitted to a satellite shortly before the weapon is impacted so that it can be investigated later. In addition, the computer hardware was completely redesigned. The first launch tests took place in May 2007, and the weapon has been in service since 2009.
The order of 91 modernized AGM-88E together with training missiles, telemetry systems, flight data recorders, technical and logistical support for a total of 108 million euros for the German Air Force was approved by the State Department of the United States in 2019 . The sale is through Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, formerly Orbital ATK. The offer, jointly with Diehl Defense , was accepted by the Federal Ministry of Defense in 2016 . Diehl will carry out production and maintenance. The deployment is planned from 2023.
AGM-88F HCSM
A version developed by Raytheon with an improved control unit.
AGM-88G AARGM-ER
Completely new version with a different shape and increased range specially developed for inclusion in the weapon bay of the F-35 .
commitment
The weapon was first used in combat by the United States in March 1986 during Operation Attain Document III against Libya . The A version used turned out to be an effective means of combating the Libyan air defense systems of the type S-75 , S-125 Newa and S-200 .
The next use took place during the Second Gulf War . More than 2000 AGM-88B Block III rockets were fired. Although the military was satisfied with their operational efficiency, the US Navy - in contrast to the Air Force - later only used Block II missiles. This decision was based on the update process of the Block III rocket: If you wanted to update the software, the entire rocket had to be switched on, which entailed the - albeit small - risk of an unplanned rocket launch. Since this could have dire consequences in the ammunition depot of an aircraft carrier , the Navy decided to forego this function.
In 1999, the US Air Force used the first C variants as part of the Kosovo war . Germany used the older B variants. Some problems with the HARM arose during the fighting. Some Serbian anti-aircraft batteries detected the launch of HARM missiles early on, prompting them to shut down their radar immediately. Although the rocket was able to continue its target approach, the inaccuracy ( CEP ) of the INS then became so great that usually no more significant damage was caused. This problem was usually exacerbated by the proximity of the enemy air defense to civilian facilities. This conflict also gave rise to the development of the D variant, which is steered more precisely with GPS support.
It is likely that the HARM was also used during the Iraq war , although no official data are available.
Users
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Australia : AGM-88B / E with EA-18G -
Egypt : AGM-88 with F-16 -
Germany : AGM-88B Block IIIB with Tornado IDS / ECR, 81 AGM-88E from 2023 -
Greece : AGM-88B Block IIIA with F-16C / D -
Italy : AGM-88B Block IIIB / E with Tornado IDS / ECR -
Kuwait : AGM-88 with F-18C / D / E / F -
Morocco : AGM-88B / C with F-16C / D -
Pakistan
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Saudi Arabia : AGM-88B with F-15SA -
Spain : AGM-88B with EF-18A / B and Typhoon -
South Korea : AGM-88 with F-15K -
Taiwan : AGM-88B with F-16A / B -
Turkey : AGM-88B Block III / C / D with F-16C / D -
United Arab Emirates : AGM-88C with F-16E / F -
United States : AGM-88A / B / C / D / E / G with A-6E, A-7E, EA-6B, F-4G, F-16C / D, F / EA-18A / B / C / D / E / F / G, F-35A / C
Technical specifications
| Parameter | AGM-88 data |
|---|---|
| Main function: | Tactical anti-radar missile |
| Manufacturer: | Raytheon ( Texas Instruments ) |
| Length: | 4.17 m |
| Diameter: | 25 cm |
| Span: | 1.12 m |
| Takeoff weight: | 363 kg |
| Drive: | single-stage solid rocket |
| Speed: | > 2280 km / h |
| Range: | 50 km |
| Steering: | inertial , passive radar control, "home-on-jam" (from C version), GPS (from D version), active radar (only E version) |
| Frequency range: | 0.5-20 GHz |
| Warhead: | 66 kg fragmentation warhead (PBXN-107 explosives) |
| Ignition: | Laser proximity fuse |
| Unit cost: | $ 284,000 |
| Commissioning: | 1983 |
Similar systems
Web links
- Manufacturer information (English; PDF, 189 kB) ( Memento from November 23, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
- Designation-Systems.net (English)
- ausairpower.net (engl.)
- [1]
Individual evidence
- ↑ Upgrade for Luftwaffe anti-radar missiles. Report in: European Security & Technology , Edition 08/2019, p. 9
- ^ Sidney E. Dean: German-North American cooperation in the defense industry. P. 101, In: European Security & Technology . Edition 08/2019, volume 68, Mittler Report Verlag, Bonn, ISSN 2193-746X