Kyiv, (Brussels Morning) – The AGM-88 HARM, or High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile, has been in service since 1985 and is a supersonic air-to-surface anti-radiation missile that has undergone many upgrades since its initial introduction. The missile’s primary function is to destroy enemy radar installations employed by SAMs or anti-aircraft guns. Let’s find out more about the AGM-88 HARM in Ukraine.
What is AGM-88 HARM in Ukraine?
The AGM-88 HARM, also known as the High-speed Anti-Radar Missile, is an American anti-radar missile that travels at a speed of 2,280 kilometres per hour and has a range of more than 100 kilometres. It can target radars even if they are not functioning properly or have changed the frequency at which they operate. Almost immune to interference. Something that is particularly efficient in suppressing the air defences of the opponent.
However, the AGM-88 HARM missile is only employed by the F-15E, F-16, F/A-18, F-4, EA-6B, F-35, Tornado, and Eurofighter. None of these aircraft is presently used by the Armed Forces of the United States. The missile was intended to destroy radars from a great distance. The paranoia throughout the Russian mass media is best shown by its fantasies around the covert delivery of Western aircraft.
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What are these used for?
These weapons may be used by aircraft in various methods, one of which is by using previously determined coordinates to fly in the general direction of a radar array before utilizing the aircraft’s internal seeker to find and get near the system.
Even though missiles, such as the AGM-88, have to be connected to the aircraft from which they are launched, they can operate with relatively little input from the aircraft or the pilot when it is required for them to do so. They were able to be swiftly adapted for use onboard Ukrainian MiG-29s and Su-27s for deployment in Ukraine’s war against Russia, which started in February of 2022. The conflict began between Ukraine and Russia.
What does AGM-88 do?
Anti-radiation missiles are often referred to as “radar-hunting” missiles because of their ability to identify and target the electromagnetic waves being broadcast by radar systems. In particular, weapons like the AGM-88 can search for and destroy these devices in a semi-autonomous manner. Even when particular targets are not in mind, HARM missiles are sometimes launched into enemy territory ahead of American planes. As soon as the air defence systems go online, the missiles already in the air detect the radar signals being emitted by the systems, and they adjust their trajectory so they may engage the systems. Even if the system is switched back down, the AGM-88’s GPS guidance will still allow it to come within a close range of the target’s most recent known position.
On the other hand, when the operators of an air-defence system are aware that HARM missiles or planes carrying them are present in the region, they may opt to keep the system powered down so that aircraft are free to fly without interference. Because of this, missions that use this weaponry are sometimes referred to as either the Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) Systems or the Destruction of Enemy Air Defense (DEAD).
Conclusion
So the question is, where did the photographs of the AGM-88 HARM in Ukraine that have been going around on the internet originate from? To tell you the truth, the only explanation that makes sense is that it was either an accident or a provocation by the Russians. Everything else seems too outlandish, on par with notions of government cover-ups.
We also have a strong desire to have faith that the Armed Forces will acquire Western planes and missiles for them, but we must keep in mind that this is not likely to happen.
