Can anyone give me more details about this weapon? The only thing I know about it is that it was developed to provide an anti-radar capability against primarily the ZSU-23-4. The only platform I know for sure that can carry it is the AH-1 Cobra. I’ve heard that the Apache can, but I’ve never been able to confirm it. So, can anyone fill me in on possible other platforms? What about range and the seeker type? When did it actually enter service? 70’s or 80’s?
By: SOC - 12th January 2005 at 03:01
Hence, the Cobra and Apache are the only likely candidates.
Or the AV-8B, which would be operating low over the battlefield in a CAS role.
Here’s what Jane’s Air Launched Weapons (April 2001) lists as carriers for the weapon: F/A-18, AV-8B, F-4G (not likely due to no USAF involvement), A-4, AH-64, and AH-1T.
The missile was apparently developed as a joint USN and USMC program to field a low-cost ARM to counter SAMs and AAA radars.
According to AIRTime’s US Navy & Marine Corps Airpower Directory, 885 AIM-9Cs were modified to AGM-122 standard, and they were carried (but not used) by AH-1Ws and possibly OV-10s during Desert Storm. Their Gulf Air War Debrief makes no mention of combat use of the weapon.
Brassey’s World Aircraft And Systems Directory (1999/2000) lists carrier aircraft as the AH-1, AH-64, A-4, F/A-18, and Harrier II.
By: PhantomII - 11th January 2005 at 21:44
Well, technically I believe that’s right, hence the reason that Harriers have carried them before.
I believe in all reality though, that the weapon is intended for lower flying aircraft such as helicopters, where the main threat comes from radar-guided AAA systems like ZSU-23-4 and SA-8 Gecko short-range SAM systems.
Hence, the Cobra and Apache are the only likely candidates.
By: Arabella-Cox - 11th January 2005 at 20:06
I thought i read it somewhere that the sidearm allows any aircraft with the ability to launch sidewinders to launch it….the answer might be in the book on Sidewinder written from(author) China Lake.
By: Srbin - 7th January 2005 at 05:05
Actually Mr. Know It All, they used Hellfires on that particular mission. They were hitting larger Early Warning Radar sites. The Sidearm is for targets like SA-8 and ZSU-23-4, to take out their radars. It wouldn’t have the warhead to hit a larger target like an EW site.
I read it somewhere that they used Sidearms too, just have no idea who told me this or where. I don’t remember any accounts of Cobras using Sidearms anywhere.
By: Arabella-Cox - 7th January 2005 at 02:52
lol, Garry if anything, never base your knowledge on computer games.
That really depends upon who makes the game and what they say in the Manual. For example if the game is a flight simulator and is trying to model an aircraft and they say in the manual that they had pilots and other people who operate the aircraft advising them on the design of the game then you can assume that most of the things that could be unclassified will be roughly right. I doubt if the Thermal images generated were accurate, and I know the performance of many of the Soviet weapons was just plain wrong but I thought a minor detail like weapons loads as modelled in the game didn’t seem over the top so without information to the contrary I am happy to assume they were right.
By: PhantomII - 6th January 2005 at 20:37
I just found a source that says the USMC’s Harrier II’s are capable of using the weapon. This article is fairly long, but it points out the deficiencies of the weapon. The missile is clearly more suited for helicopters than use by aircraft such as the Harrier.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1995/CPB.htm
By: PhantomII - 6th January 2005 at 20:32
Actually Mr. Know It All, they used Hellfires on that particular mission. They were hitting larger Early Warning Radar sites. The Sidearm is for targets like SA-8 and ZSU-23-4, to take out their radars. It wouldn’t have the warhead to hit a larger target like an EW site.
By: Srbin - 6th January 2005 at 20:04
[quote]
And Srbin for the record I highly doubt he was making a comment based on a computer game.
He said based on a game he played, he could use the Sidearm for the Cobra as well as the Apache, so he probably assumed you can do it in real life. This is just not a way to make your judgement, or base your knowledge about something on a “game”
Yes, the Sidearm was used on the Apaches, and I think it was like on the first days of the 1st Gulf War, the Apaches used it and destroyed a few radar sites.
By: PhantomII - 6th January 2005 at 19:24
I did some reading and the missile is indeed based on the old semi-active AIM-9C. It simply uses a low-tech passive radar seeker. Apparently it’s a fairly effective weapon against systems like ZSU-23-4, but obviously not as capable as ALARM or HARM.
And Srbin for the record I highly doubt he was making a comment based on a computer game.
And apparently this one was somewhat accurate because it had the Sidearm listed as a weapon for at least the AH-1. I’m still not sure about Apache, but it wouldn’t surprise me.
By: Srbin - 6th January 2005 at 16:40
A computer game I played in the late 80s and early 90s called Gunship 2000 (on an Amiga 500) had Sidearms as an option for Cobras and Apaches…
lol, Garry if anything, never base your knowledge on computer games.
By: aerospacetech - 6th January 2005 at 08:15
It was a low cost rebuild of the Navy’s stock of old semi-active AIM-9C missiles, delivered to the US Marine Corps.
By: Arabella-Cox - 6th January 2005 at 07:17
A computer game I played in the late 80s and early 90s called Gunship 2000 (on an Amiga 500) had Sidearms as an option for Cobras and Apaches…
From memory it was specifically for targetting Shilkas… to evade radar guided SAMs they just hid behind trees. Can A-10s carry it? …sorry american weapons aren’t my thing…
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January 6, 2005 at 6:54 am