megazone@wpi.WPI.EDU (MEGAZONE 23) (02/09/91)
From: megazone@wpi.WPI.EDU (MEGAZONE 23) Information: HARM >From The Encyclopedia of World Air Power, Cresent Books, 1980. Type: (AGM-88A) air-launched anti-radiation missile Powerplant: Thiokol solid-propellant rocket Performance: cruising speed more than Mach 2 or 1,520mph (2431km/h) at sea level; maximum range 11.5 miles (18.5km) Weight: 807lb (367kg) Dimensions: Span 3ft 8.5in (1.13m); length 13ft 8in (4.17m); diameter 10in (25cm) Warhead: about 145-lb (66-kg) modified Shrike fragmentation Operators: under development for US Air Force, US Marine Corps, US Navy "The Texas Instruments AGM-88A HARM (High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile) is being developed jointly for the US Navy and US Air Force, the former service taking the lead. The weapon was due to begin a series of flight trials in early 1979, following design changes, and a decision on whether to start production is not expaected before 1980. HARM is, as its name suggests, faster than present anti-radiation missiles and is intended to combine the best attributes of the present NWC Shrike and General Dynamics Standard ARM, which it will augment and replace. These advantages include comparitive cheapness, light weight and simplicity, the ability to arm non-specialized aircraft, use of a sensitive broadband receiver, and a large launch envelope. Ground radars to be attacked with HARM are detected by a radar warning receiver in the launch aircraft or by the missile's own seeker operating in the search mode. Threat priorities are automatically calculated, allowing missiles to be fired against the most dangerous ones, those engaged in guiding surface-to-air missiles, for example. Recent improvements made to the weapon's design include the ability to home on to con- tinuous-wave radars and to manoeuvre rapidly as it approaches the target. The US Navy and US Marine Corps plan to carry HARM on Grumman A-6 Intruders, Vought A-7E Cosairs and McDonnell Douglas/Northrop A-18 Hornets, while the US Air Force will arm its McDonnell Douglas F-4G Wild Weasel defence- suppression aircraft wih the missile." >From The US War Machine, Salamander Books, 1983. Origin: Texas Instruments Inc., USA Type: High-speed anti-radiation missile Propulsion: Thiokol single-grain (280lb, 127kg, filling of non-aluminized HTPB) reduced-smoke boost/sustain motor Dimensions: Length 13ft 8.5in (4.17m); body diameter 10in (254mm); span 44in (1,118mm) Launch weight: 796lb (361kg) Range: Variable with aircraft to about 11.5 miles (18.5km) Flight speed: Over Mach 2 Warhead: Fragmentation with proximity fuze system. "Neither Shrike nor Standard ARM is an ideal air-launched ARM and in 1973 the Naval Weapons Center began R&D and also funded industry studies for a High- speed Anti-Radiation Missile (Harm). Among the objectives were much higher flight speed, to lock-on and hit targets before they could be switched off or take other action, and to combine the low cost and versatility of Shrike, the sensitivity and large launch envelope of Standard ARM, and completely new passive homing using the latest microelctronic digital techniques and inter- facing with new aircraft systems. In 1974 TI was selected as system integration contractor, assisted by Hughes, Dalmo-Victor, Itek and SRI (Stanford Research Institute). The slim AGM-88A missile has double-delta moving wings and a small fixed tail. The TI seeker has a simple fixed aerial (antenna) yet gives broad- band coverage, a low-cost autopilot is fitted, and Motorola supplies an optical target detector forming part of the fuzing for the large advanced design war- head. Carrier aircraft include Navy/Marines A-6E, A-7E and F/A-18, and the Air Force APR-38 Wild Weasel F-4G and EF-111A, with Itek's ALR-45 radar warning receiver and Dalmo-Victor's DSA-20 signal analyzer both interfaced. Proposed carriers include the B-52, F-16 and Tornado. Harm can be used in three modes. The basic use is Self-protect, the ALR-45 detecting threats, the launch computer sorting the data to give priorities and pass to the missile a complete set of digital instructions in milliseconds, whereupon the missile can be fired. In the Target of Opportunity mode the very sensitive seeker locks-on to "certain parameters of operation and also transmissions associated with other parts of a radar installation" which could not be detected by Shrike or Standard ARM. In the Pre-briefed mode Harm is fired blind in the direction of known emitters; if the latter are silent the missile self-destructs, but if one of them radiates, Harm at once homes on to it. Test flights began in 1976; redesign followed and following prolonged further tests delivery to user units began in early 1983." ############################################################################### # "Calling Garland operator 7G," EVE Email megazone@wpi.wpi.edu # # MEGAZONE, aka DAYTONA, aka BRIAN BIKOWICZ Bitnet Use a gateway. Sorry. # ###############################################################################