The HARM Missile familiar or just heard it today?
TITLE:
AGM-88 ‘Harm’
TYPE:
Medium range anti-radar air-to-surface missile.
DEVELOPMENT:
The AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radar Missile (HARM) is a second generation development following on from the AGM-45 Shrike and AGM-78 Standard programmes. Studies started in 1972 and in 1974. Texas Instruments was awarded the integration contract to support the development work at the US Naval Weapons Center (NWC), China Lake. The main improvements incorporated in HARM were a broadband antenna, programmable software and the ability to handle higher I-Band (8 to 10 GHz) radar frequencies.
DESCRIPTION:
AGM-88 HARM has four moving control cranked leading edge clipped delta wings at mid-body and four fixed clipped-tip delta fins at the rear. The missile is 4.17 m long, has a body diameter of 254 mm, a wingspan of 1.13 m, and weight of 361 kg. Guidance is by a broadband digital passive radar seeker with a fixed antenna. The 66 kg HE fragmentation warhead has a laser proximity fuze, which determines the detonation of the warhead depending on the final trajectory characteristics. The HARM can be programmed by the launch aircraft to attack selected targets, or it can be launched at longer range to acquire a transmitter later in flight.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: 4.17 m
Body diameter: 254 mm
Wingspan: 1.13 m
Launch weight: 361 kg
Warhead: 66 kg HE fragmentation
Fuze: Active laser
Guidance: Passive radar
Propulsion: Solid propellant
Range: 25 km
