The U.S. quietly transferred the high-speed AGM-88 HARM missiles to Ukraine. Why these weapons can easily complicate life for invaders?

Aug 19

A view of an AGM-88 HARM high-speed anti-radiation missile mounted beneath the wing of a F-4G Phantom II aircraft. Image credit: Scott Stewart, U.S. DoD via Wikimedia, Public Domain

The AGM-88 HARM is an American tactical air-to-surface anti-radiation missile that targets ground-based air defense radar systems, homing in on electronically transmitted signals emitted in a form of radio waves. For radars, the emission of radio waves is inevitable, and for this reason AGM-88 HARM becomes a ‘natural enemy’ of basically any type of radio-location equipment. Only a minimum human input is required. 

The presence of such missiles in Ukraine’s armed forces is already causing problems for Russian air defense radars needed to protect the invading forces against Ukrainian helicopters and airplanes. The enemy radars that are used to detect Ukrainian artillery, including multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), are now also subjected to a new danger.

The publication on Business Insider notesthat the Pentagon confirmed the transfer of HARM systems to Ukraine after Russian observers reported first discoveries of fragments originating from these missiles.

HARM is a powerful weapon, but not a new one. In fact, the first version of AGM-88 was designed back in 1983, and the first use in real combat followed in 1986. It was one of the key weapons in Operation Desert Stormduring the Persian Gulf War of 1991. In total, 15 countries currently use this weapon in their military forces.

The AGM-88 is an improved descendant of the AGM-45 Shrike that was used in the Vietnam War. During the development of HARM, many shortcomings were fixed. Compared to predecessor, AGM-88 has extended range, while its automatic guidance system covers a broader range of detectable radar frequencies.

After the source of the radio signal is detected, HARM ‘remembers’ the initial target location even when the radar is deactivated. It also has an impressive maximum operational range of 150 kilometers, and the missile can be fired from a wide variety of launcher platforms, including those used on aircraft F-15E, F-16, F/A-18, Eurofighter Typhoon, F-35, and others.

The HARM missile weighs 355 kg (783 lb), while its length is 4.1 m. The weight of the warhead is 66 kg (146 lb). Maximum speed reaches 2,280 km/h (1,420 mph) (Mach 1.84). A single unit costs US$284,000.

It is interesting to note that U.S. military currently use even more advanced versions of this weapon. For example, AGM-88G AARGM-ER modification uses the existing guidance system and warheads, but the airframe is slightly redesigned and the propulsion system is replaced with a solid integrated rocket-ramjet which effectively doubles the range (up to 300 km). The maximum speed of this model reaches Mach 4. 

HARM will help Ukraine target Russian counter-battery radars that track projectiles and missiles in flight, calculate their trajectories and pinpoint the howitzers and rocket launchers that launched them.