AGM-88 HARM
AGM-88 HARM | |
---|---|
P-8 Poseidon | |
References | Janes[2][3] |
The AGM-88 HARM (High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile) is a tactical,
Description
The AGM-88 can detect, attack and destroy a
History
Deployment
United States
The HARM missile was approved for full production in March 1983, obtained
HARM was used extensively by the Navy, Marine Corps, and the Air Force in
"Magnum" is spoken over the radio to announce the launch of an AGM-88.[6] During the Gulf War, if an aircraft was illuminated by enemy radar a bogus "Magnum" call on the radio was often enough to convince the operators to power down.[7] This technique would also be employed in Yugoslavia during air operations in 1999. On 28 April 1999, during this campaign, an early variant of the AGM-88, after being fired in self defense mode by a NATO jet, lost its radio frequency track as the Serbian air defense radar was turned off, hitting a house in the Gorna Banya district of the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, causing damages, but no casualties.[8][9]
During the 1990s and early 2000s and during the initial weeks of the operation
Starting in March 2011, during Operation Unified Protector against Libya, US Navy EA-18Gs had their combat debut using HARMs against Libyan air defenses together with USAF F-16CJs and Italian Tornadoes.[14][15]
Israel
In 2013, US President Obama offered the AGM-88 to Israel for the first time.[16]
Italy
Starting in March 2011, during Operation Unified Protector, Italian Tornados employed AGM-88 HARMs against Libyan air defenses.[17][18]
Ukraine
In mid-2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the US supplied AGM-88 HARM missiles to Ukraine. It was only disclosed after Russian forces showed footage of a tail fin from one of these missiles in early August 2022.[19] U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl said in recent aid packages they had included a number of anti-radiation missiles that can be fired by Ukrainian aircraft.[20] As built, Soviet-era aircraft do not have the computer architecture to accept NATO standard weapons. Indeed, none of the former Warsaw Pact countries, even those that have had their Soviet-era aircraft updated, were enabled to fire a HARM before.[21] The interface seemed difficult unless using a "crude modification", such as integrating it with an added e-tablet into the cockpit, building a nearly totally independent subsystem within the carrying aircraft.[22] As suggested by Domenic Nicholis, defense correspondent for the Telegraph in the UK, the HARM missile is possibly operating in one of its three modes that enables it to find its target once flying after being released towards a possible enemy air defense and electronic emission area. Pre mission or during flight, NATO signals intelligence aircraft or different intelligence would be providing the overall electromagnetic emissions battlefield to locate the Russian radars where the Ukrainian jets, armed with HARMs would be directed to fire them. This allows the missile to achieve a very long range attack profile, even if it's possible that the missile does not find a target while flying, going wasted.[23] A second possible use of the HARM is operating it in a mode called "HARM as sensor". Similar to the described mode before, the missile acts as both sensor and weapon, not requiring a sensor pod. A simple interface would show that the missile has a target and the pilot can launch it. In this way the range is shorter, and the jet could be under threat already, but would maximize the possibility to hit the emitter.[24]
In August 2022, a senior U.S. defense official confirmed that the Ukrainians have successfully integrated the AGM-88 HARM missile onto their "MiG aircraft", hinting the MiG-29 was the chosen fighter jet[25] with video evidence of AGM-88 missiles fired by upgraded Ukrainian MiG-29s released by the Ukrainian Air Force a few days later.[26]
Speaking on 19 September, US Air Force General
During early September 2022, a Ukrainian Su-27S was spotted with an AGM-88 HARM fitted on the wing pylons. This is the first case of an Su-27 being spotted with an AGM-88 fitted. The missile has been directly fitted to the APU-470 missile launchers, the same launcher used by MiG-29 and Su-27 to fire missiles like the R-27 (air-to-air missile). This suggests that mounting the missile on Soviet aircraft is much easier than experts initially believed. Being as simple as "requiring just an interface for the different wirings and the hanging points of the missile". The earlier footage of a Ukrainian MiG-29 using an AGM-88 indicated that the display recognized the missile as a R-27EP, which is designed to lock onto airborne radars. This suggests that the aircraft are using their own avionics to fire the missile, without the need for additional modifications.[28]
In December, the
Variants
AGM-88E AARGM
The AGM-88E Advanced Antiradiation Guided Missile (AARGM) has an updated guidance section and modified control section, along with the rocket motor and warhead section, wings, and fins from the AGM-88 HARM. It utilizes millimeter-wave radar for precise terminal guidance, countering the enemy's radar shut-down capability, and has the ability to transmit images of the target before impact.
In June 2003, Orbital ATK was awarded a $223m contract to develop the AARGM. Subsequently, in November 2005, the Italian Ministry of Defense and the US Department of Defense entered into a memorandum of agreement to jointly fund the project.[31]
The U.S. Navy demonstrated the AARGM's capability during Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) in spring 2012 with live firing of 12 missiles. Aircrew and maintenance training with live missiles was completed in June.[33]
The Navy authorized Full-Rate Production (FRP) of the AARGM in August 2012, with 72 missiles for the Navy and nine for the
In September 2013, ATK delivered the 100th AARGM to the U.S. Navy. The AGM-88E program is on schedule and on budget, with
This model of the HARM will be integrated onto the F/A-18C/D/E/F, EA-18G, Tornado ECR aircraft, and later on the F-35 (externally).[37][38]
In September 2015, the AGM-88E successfully hit a mobile ship target in a live fire test, demonstrating the missile's ability to use antiradiation homing and millimeter-wave radar to detect, identify, locate, and engage moving targets.[39]
In December 2019, the German Air Force ordered the AARGM.[32] On August 4, 2020, Northrop Grumman's Alliant Techsystems Operations division, based in Northridge, California, was awarded a $12,190,753 IDIQ contract for AARGM depot sustainment support, guidance section and control section repair, and equipment box test and inspection.[40] On August 31, 2020, the same Northrop Grumman division was allocated roughly $80.9 million to develop new technology for the AARGM.[41]
AGM-88F HCSM
Although the US Navy/Marine Corps chose the Orbital ATK-produced AGM-88E AARGM,[42] Raytheon developed its own update of the HARM, known as the AGM-88F HARM Control Section Modification (HCSM). This modification was tested in collaboration with and eventually adopted by the US Air Force. It includes upgrades such as satellite and inertial navigation controls, designed to minimize collateral damage and friendly fire.[43] The Republic of China (Taiwan), Bahrain, and Qatar have purchased AGM-88Bs retrofitted with the HCSM upgrade.[44]
AGM-88G AARGM-ER
The Navy's FY 2016 budget included funding for an AARGM-Extended Range (ER) that uses the existing guidance system and warhead of the AGM-88E with a solid integrated rocket-
The U.S. Navy awarded Orbital ATK a contract for AARGM-ER development in January 2018.
In February 2023, the U.S. Navy began exploring the feasibility of launching the AARGM-ER from ground-based launchers and the P-8 Poseidon.[59]
On February 27, 2023, Australia asked to purchase up to 63 AGM-88G AARGM-ERs.[60]
On June 5, 2023, The Netherlands announced the acquisition of the AARGM-ER for the use on their F-35A fleet.[61]
On October 23, 2023, Finland was approved by the U.S.
On January 12, 2024, Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract to integrate the AARGM-ER with all three F-35 variants.[63]
Stand-in Attack Weapon
In May 2022, the USAF awarded contracts to
Criticism
During
Operators
Current operators
- Australia
-
- Royal Australian Air Force: AGM-88E variant ordered; to be used on EA-18G Growlers.[69] On 28 April 2017, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency stated that Australia intended to purchase 70 AGM-88B and 40 AGM-88E missiles.[70]
- Bahrain
-
- Royal Bahraini Air Force: 50 AGM-88Bs refurbished to the AGM-88F standard were ordered in May 2019 to be integrated on newly upgraded F-16 Block 70 fighters.[71][72]
- Greece
-
- Hellenic Air Force: AGM-88B Block IIIA and AGM-88E variants. AGM-88E AARGM on order.[75]
- Italy
-
- Italian Air Force: AGM-88E variant.
- Morocco
-
- Royal Moroccan Air Force: AGM-88B variant.[76]
- Qatar
-
- Qatar Emiri Air Force: 100 AGM-88F.[77][72]
- Taiwan
-
- Republic of China Air Force: 50 AGM-88Bs refurbished to AGM-88F standard ordered in June 2017, with delivery by 2027 for the ROCAF's F-16 Block 70 fleet.[79][72] Another 100 AGM-88Bs were ordered in March 2023.[80] Upon the contract being announced, these will likely also be refurbished to the AGM-88F standard.[citation needed]
- Turkey
-
- Turkish Air Force: 96 AGM-88E AARGM ordered in 2024 upon existing inventory.[81]
Future operators
- Finland
-
- Finnish Air Force: up to 150 AGM-88G missiles will be bought.[85]
- The Netherlands
-
- Royal Netherlands Air Force: AGM-88G variant.[86][87]
See also
- AGM-122 Sidearm
- AGM-78 Standard ARM
- AGM-45 Shrike
- ALARM
- ARMAT
- Kh-28
- Kh-31
- Kh-58
- LD-10
- MAR-1
- Martel
- Rudram-1
- YJ-91
References
- ^ "AGM-88E AARGM". Deagel.com. Archived from the original on 5 January 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
- ^ Janes (26 August 2022), "AGM‐88 High‐speed Anti‐Radiation Missile (HARM)", Janes Weapons: Naval, Coulsdon, Surrey: Jane's Group UK Limited., retrieved 1 October 2022
- ^ Janes (22 July 2022), "AGM‐88E Advanced Anti‐Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM)", Janes Weapons: Air Launched, Coulsdon, Surrey: Jane's Group UK Limited., retrieved 1 October 2022
- ^ "Raytheon AGM-88 HARM".
- ISBN 1-84176-751-4.
- ^ "Attachment I: Glossary: Operational Brevity Words and Terminology". MCM 3-1. Vol. 1. Federation of American Scientists. 1 December 1991. Archived from the original on 14 March 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
- ISBN 978-0-8014-3816-5.
- TheGuardian.com. 30 April 1999.
- ^ "BBC News | Europe | Sofia hit by Nato missile".
- ^ Tirpak, John A. "Legacy of the Air Blockades" (PDF). Air & Space Forces Magazine. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
- ^ "Blue-On-Blue! The story of the U.S. Navy F/A-18 that was shot down by a U.S. Army PAC-3 Patriot missile battery during OIF". 7 March 2018.
- ^ "F-16 vs Patriot friendly fire incident on 24 March 2003 in Iraq | Key Aero". www.key.aero. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
- ^ AXE, DAVID (11 July 2016). "That Time an Air Force F-16 and an Army Missile Battery Fought Each Other". War Is Boring. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
- ^ "EA-18G Growler Airborne Electronic Attack Aircraft".
- ^ Palmas, Francesco. "PASSATO E PRESENTE DELLE OPERAZIONI SEAD" (PDF). difesa.it (in Italian). Retrieved 11 October 2022.
- ^ "Israel seeks $5B in U.S. loans to buy arms". United Press International. 1 July 2013. Archived from the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
- ^ "LIBYA: Italian Eurofighters, Harriers fly first combat air patrol missions".
- ^ "Contributo Aeronautica Militare all'Operazione Nato 'Unified Protector' – Difesa.it".
- ^ Liebermann, Oren (8 August 2022). "Pentagon acknowledges sending previously undisclosed anti-radar missiles to Ukraine". CNN. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ Trevithick, Joseph (8 August 2022). "Anti-Radiation Missiles Sent To Ukraine, U.S. Confirms". The War Zone. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ Danylov, Oleg (8 August 2022). "Anti-Radiation Missiles Sent To Ukraine, U.S. Confirms". Mezha.Media. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ Rogoway, Tyler (7 August 2022). "Anti-Radiation Missiles Sent To Ukraine, U.S. Confirms". The War Zone. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ "The mood in the EU, US military aid & why Zelenksy wants Europe to stop giving visas to Russians". The Telegraph (Podcast). 8 August 2022. Event occurs at 4:02-42. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
- ^ Axe, David (11 August 2022). "Ukrainian Jets Are Firing American Anti-Radar Missiles". Forbes. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ Trevithick, Joseph (19 August 2022). "Ukrainian MiG-29s Are Firing AGM-88 Anti-Radiation Missiles". The War Zone. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
- ^ a b "First Footage of Ukrainian MiG-29 Firing US-delivered Anti-Radiation Missiles Emerges". 30 August 2022.
- ^ Valerie Insinna (19 September 2022). "It took 'couple of months' to put US anti-radiation missiles on Ukrainian fighters, USAF reveals". breaking defense. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- ^ Stefano D'Urso (9 September 2022). "Ukrainian Su-27s Are Now Using AGM-88 HARM Missiles Too". The Aviationist.
- ^ Ashish Dangwal (17 December 2022). "'Double HARM': Ukrainian MiG-29 Fires Two AGM-88 Missiles Simultaneously Presumably At Russian Positions". EurAsian Times.
- ^ "Russia 'Shoots Down' 4 AGM-88 Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARM) Over Belgorod Region, MoD Says". EurAsian Times. 19 December 2022.
- ^ a b "AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile". Air Force Technology. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
- ^ a b Heiming, Gerhard (20 December 2019). "Bundeswehr erhält AGM-88E AARGM Antiradar-Lenkflugkörper" [Bundeswehr receives AGM-88E AARGM anti-radar guided missile]. Europäische Sicherheit und Technik (in German). Mittler Report Verlag GmbH.
- ^ "Navy approves full rate production for new anti-radiation missile". Naval Air Systems Command, United States Navy (Press release). 29 August 2012. Archived from the original on 7 July 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
- ^ "Navy Approves Full Rate Production for New Anti-Radiation Missile". Defense-Aerospace.com. Briganti et Associés. 29 August 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
- ^ "ATK Delivers 100th Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) to U.S. Navy". PR Newswire. 17 September 2013. Archived from the original on 30 April 2014.
- ^ Drew, James (25 March 2016). "US Navy extends Orbital ATK AGM-88E production". FlightGlobal. DVV Media. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016.
- ^ "ATK Awarded $55 Million Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile Low Rate Initial Production Contract by the United States Navy" (Press release). ATK. 21 January 2009. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2011 – via Reuters.
- ^ "U.S. Navy Wants Internal AARGM For F-35". Aviation Week. Informa. 8 April 2015.
- ^ Tomkins, Richard (23 September 2015). "U.S. Navy tests upgraded missile". United Press International. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015.
- ^ "Contracts for August 4, 2020". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- ^ "Contracts for August 31, 2020". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- ^ "Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) – Standard and Extended Range". Northrop-Grumman. Archived from the original on 16 September 2018.
- ^ Drew, James (26 October 2015). "Raytheon's HCSM anti-radiation missile upgrade completes key test". FlightGlobal. DVV Media. Archived from the original on 13 April 2016.
- ^ "Contracts For May 23, 2019". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- ^ Sweetman, Bill (3 February 2015). "F-35Cs Cut Back As U.S. Navy Invests in Standoff Weapons". Aviation Week. Informa. Archived from the original on 5 February 2015.
- ^ "AARGM-ER Datasheet" (PDF). Northrop Grumman. 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ^ Drew, James (20 September 2016). "Orbital ATK Reveals New 'Double-Range' AARGM". Aviation Week. Informa. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
- ^ Trevithick, Joseph (3 June 2020). "Navy's Highly Promising Long-Range Air Defense Busting Missile Has Taken Its First Flight". The War Zone. The Drive Media, Inc. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ a b Trevithick, Joseph (7 May 2019). "USAF F-35As Will Get Navy's New Air Defense Busting Missile Amid Talk of Anti-Ship Variants". The War Zone. The Drive Media, Inc.
- ^ Donald, David (5 June 2020). "New Anti-Radiation Missile Flies in Navy Anti-Radar Revamp". Aviation International News.
- ^ "Orbital ATK gets U.S. Navy Contract to Develop AARGM-ER". Navy Recognition. 24 January 2018. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018.
- ^ "US Navy Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile – Extended Range to enter production". Air Recognition. 26 August 2021.
- ^ Quigley, Aidan (15 September 2021). "Navy issues Northrop Grumman $41 million AARGM-ER contract". Inside Defense.
- ^ "Northrop Grumman awarded second low-rate initial production contract" (Press release). Northrop Grumman Newsroom. 7 February 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
- ^ Tingley, Brett (2 August 2021). "First Live-Fire Test Of The Navy's New Long-Range Anti-Radiation Missile Was A Success". The War Zone. The Drive Media, Inc. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
- ^ "Third Successful Missile Live Fire Test for Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile Extended Range" (Press release). Northrop Grumman Newsroom. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
- ^ "Northrop Grumman's Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile Extended Range Completes Fourth Successful Missile Live Fire" (Press release). Northrop Grumman Newsroom. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
- ^ "Northrop Grumman's Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile Extended Range Completes Fifth Consecutive Successful Test" (Press release). Northrop Grumman Newsroom. 8 May 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
- ^ Trevithick, Joseph (17 February 2023). "Navy To Test Ground-Launched Version Of New Radar-Busting Missile". The War Zone. The Drive Media, Inc. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
- ^ "Australia – Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles Extended Range (AARGM-ERs) (Corrected) | Defense Security Cooperation Agency". www.dsca.mil.
- ^ "Nieuwe munitie F-35's vergroot slagkracht – Nieuwsbericht". Defensie.nl. 5 June 2023.
- ^ "Finland – Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles-Extended Range (AARGM-ER)". 23 October 2023.
- ^ Finnerty, Ryan (17 January 2024). "Lockheed to integrate latest air defence suppression missile with all F-35 variants". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ Losey, Stephen (9 June 2022). "US Air Force awards contracts to start designing F-35 weapon". Defense News. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ^ Tirpak, John A. (15 June 2022). "New SiAW Seen as Modular, Pathfinder Weapon". Air & Space Forces Magazine. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ^ Northrop wins $705 million contract for F-35 air-to-ground weapon. Defense News. 26 September 2023.
- ISBN 0-8330-3050-7
- ^ Lyon, Charles (2000), Operation Allied Force: A Lesson on Strategy, Risk, and Tactical Execution, Washington D.C.: National War College, pp. 13–23
- ^ "AGM-88E AARGM Missile: No Place To Hide Down There". Defense Industry Daily. 31 July 2019. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
- ^ "US approves sale of anti-radiation missiles for RAAF Growler". Australian Aviation. 1 May 2017. Archived from the original on 1 May 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
- ^ "Weapons to Support F-16 Block 70/F-16V Aircraft Fleet". Defense Security Cooperation Agency. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
- ^ a b c "Contracts for May 23, 2019". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
- ^ "Al Quwwat al Jawwiya Ilmisriya/Egyptian Air Force". F-16.net. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Spain buying HARMs for use on EF-18". Defense Daily. 25 May 1990. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
- ^ "HAF acquires advanced AGM-88E AARGM anti-radar missiles and AGM-84L Harpoon II anti-ship missiles for F-16V". DefenceHub. 28 June 2022.
- ^ "Morocco – Weapons and Related Support for F-16 Aircraft" (Press release). US Defense Security Cooperation Agency. 11 July 2008. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018 – via Defense-Aerospace.com.
- ^ "Trade Registers". armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
- ^ "Han-guk Kong Goon/Republic of Korea Air Force". F-16.net. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ "Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (Tecro) in the United States – AGM-88B High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARM)" (Press release). US Defense Security Cooperation Agency. 19 June 2017.
- ^ "Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States – F-16 Munitions | Defense Security Cooperation Agency". www.dsca.mil. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
- ^ "Turk Hava Kuvvetleri/Turkish Air Force". F-16.net. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ "US-made AGM-88 missiles started striking Russian air defense positions in Ukraine". Ukrainian Military Center. 7 August 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ "Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah/United Arab Emirates Air Force". F-16.net. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ "AGM-88 HARM". Harpoon Databases. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
- ^ "Finland – Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles-Extended Range (AARGM-ER) | Defense Security Cooperation Agency". www.dsca.mil.
- ^ "Netherlands selects AARGM-ER missiles for its F-35 fleet". 5 June 2023.
- ^ "Netherlands buys H225M helos for special operations, AARGM-ER for F-35".
Further reading
- Bonds, Ray (2002). "AGM-88 HARM". In Miller, David (ed.). The Illustrated Directory of Modern American Weapons. Motorbooks International. ISBN 0-7603-1346-6.
External links
- AGM-88 data sheet (PDF format) from Raytheon
- Information on AGM-88 HARM from FAS
- AGM-88 at Designation-Systems
- AGM-88 HARM by Carlo Kopp