AGM-88 HARM

Overview

The AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) is a tactical air-to-surface missile designed to target and destroy enemy radar systems. Developed initially by Texas Instruments and later produced by Raytheon (now RTX Corporation), it is a critical weapon for Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) missions. The missile homes in on radio frequency emissions from radar systems, enabling precision strikes against enemy radars and associated air defense units. It entered service with the U.S. Navy and Air Force in 1985.

Key Characteristics

• Purpose: To detect, attack, and destroy radar systems by homing in on their electromagnetic emissions.
• Weight: Approximately 355 kg (783 lb) and varies by variant (AGM-88G has a mass of 467 kg).
• Speed: Supersonic (exceeds Mach 2.0)
• Range: Varies depending on the variant and launch conditions; some variants have extended range capabilities. From 25km (low-level) to 150km (AGM-88 A/B/C/E to 300 km (AGM-88G)
• Warhead: WDU-21/B blast-fragmentation type weighing about 66 kg (145 lb). The warhead is designed to damage or destroy radar antennas and associated equipment.
• Propulsion: Solid-fuel rocket motor.
• Guidance: Passive radar homing with a broadband seeker to detect and lock onto radar emissions across a wide frequency range.

Design

The AGM-88 is engineered for precision targeting and operational versatility.

• It features a sophisticated guidance system that employs an intelligent radar video processor to recognize and track various radar signatures.
• The missile has a streamlined form factor suitable for various platforms, including non-dedicated aircraft.
• Modern guidance techniques, including an inertial navigation system (INS), correct the missile's path mid-flight, increasing accuracy. Rangefinding techniques, such as Differential Time Of Arrival (DTOA) and Phase-Rate-of-Change (PRC), contribute to its ability to locate and engage targets with high precision.
• The missile is field-reprogrammable, allowing it to engage not only traditional threat radars but also other non-standard targets such as air traffic control and weather radars.

Main Variants

The AGM-88 HARM has evolved through several variants, each improving on previous versions with enhanced capabilities and guidance.

More Information:

• Army Recognition - First Combat Use of U.S. AGM-88 Missile by Ukraine
• Aeronaut - Ukrainian Su-27 Strikes Russian Air Defense System with AGM-88 HARM Missile
• Weaponsystems.net - AGM-88 HARM
• Army Recognition - AGM-88 AGM-88E HARM
• Designation Systems - AGM-88 HARM
• The War Zone, Joseph Trevithick: First Stand-In Attack Missile Delivered To USAF