AGM-88 HARM

AGM-88 HARM
An AGM-88 HARM missile loaded aboard an F/A-18C
Type	Air-to-surface anti-radiation missile
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1985–present
Used by	U.S. and others
Wars	Gulf War, Kosovo War, Iraq War, 2011 military intervention in Libya
Production history
Designer	Texas Instruments
Designed	1983
Manufacturer	Texas Instruments, then Raytheon Corporation
Unit cost	US$284,000 US$870,000 for AGM-88E
Produced	1983–present
Specifications
Weight	355 kilograms (783 lb)
Length	4.1 metres (13 ft)
Diameter	254 millimetres (10.0 in)
Warhead	WDU-21/B blast-fragmentation in a WAU-7/B warhead section, and later WDU-37/B blast-fragmentation warhead.
Warhead weight	66 kilograms (146 lb)
Detonation mechanism	FMU-111/B laser proximity fuze
Engine	Thiokol SR113-TC-1 dual-thrust rocket engine
Wingspan	1.1 metres (3.6 ft)
Propellant	Solid fuel
Operational range	150 kilometres; 92 miles (80 nmi)
Speed	2,280 km/h (1,420 mph)
Guidance system	Passive radar homing with home-on-jam, GPS/INS and millimeter wave active radar homing in E variant. 500-20,000 MHz for AGM-88C
Launch platform	F/A-18, F-4G, F-16, Tornado IDS, F-35 and others

The AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) is a tactical, air-to-surface missile designed to home in on electronic transmissions coming from surface-to-air radar systems. It was originally developed by Texas Instruments as a replacement for the AGM-45 Shrike and AGM-78 Standard ARM system. Production was later taken over by Raytheon Corporation when it purchased the defense production business of Texas Instruments.

The AGM-88 can detect, attack and destroy a radar antenna or transmitter with minimal aircrew input. The proportional guidance system that hones in on enemy radar emissions has a fixed antenna and seeker head in the missile's nose. A smokeless, solid-propellant, booster-sustainer rocket motor propels the missile at speeds over Mach 2. HARM, a U.S. Navy-led program, was initially integrated onto the A-6E, A-7 and F/A-18 and later onto the EA-6B. RDT&E for use on the F-14 was begun, but not completed. The USAF introduced HARM on the F-4G Wild Weasel and later on specialized F-16s equipped with the HARM Targeting System (HTS).

The HARM missile was approved for full production in March 1983, obtained initial operating capability (IOC) on the A-7E Corsair II in late 1983 and then deployed in late 1985 with VA-46 aboard the aircraft carrier USS America. In 1986 the first successful firing of the HARM from an EA-6B was performed by VAQ-131. It was soon used in combat—in March 1986 against a Libyan SA-5 site in the Gulf of Sidra, and then Operation Eldorado Canyon in April. HARM was used extensively by the United States Navy and the United States Air Force for Operation Desert Storm during the Gulf War of 1991.