So what’s to prevent anyone from reprogramming an AIM-120D INS/GPS to further enhance the SEAD of the F-22 or any other plane that can carry the AMRAAM for that matter?
Raytheon HARM Variant Hits Target Without Radar Guidance
Raytheon Company
Nov 28, 2006 – 6:35:43 AM
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Tucson AZ: Raytheon has demonstrated the enhanced navigation accuracy capability of a new variant of HARM (High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile). Called “HDAM” for HARM Destruction of enemy air defense Attack Module, the new variant adds INS/GPS (inertial navigation system/global positioning system) capability to the battle-proven HARM, greatly improving its effectiveness while significantly reducing collateral damage and the threat to friendly troops.
The test flight took place at the China Lake Test Range, Calif. The missile, launched from an F-16, was fired against a simulated surface-to-surface missile launcher.
The target was not emitting radar signals — the normal target locater used by the current HARM system. In this case the missile was given the target’s geographic location.
After launch the missile flew a range-enhancing profile and the fuze successfully activated over the target well within the required parameters. Pieces of the destroyed target were observed flying through the air, which was significant as the missile was not carrying a warhead.
The first test on June 20 saw HDAM, also launched from an F-16, successfully face two radar sources and select the correct one. The test demonstrated that the added INS/GPS capability ensures that the intended target is attacked instead of other radar sources.
“The combination of the excellent long range targeting provided by the F-16, and HDAM’s supersonic precision attack, gives the warfighter a way to destroy critical targets at extended ranges,” said Jeff Wadsworth, the HARM program director at Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Ariz. “The target no longer needs to identify itself by radar emission to be neutralized.”
“HDAM can quickly be adapted to a new role as a high-speed strike weapon with impressive range,” Wadsworth said. “Raytheon is already researching new technology that gives the HDAM increased effectiveness over a wide range of target sets.”
By: ELP - 29th November 2006 at 11:37
You mean something like this: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/wms/findPage.do?dsp=fec&ci=16986&rsbci=13640&fti=124&ti=0&sc=400 ? 🙂
Thanks, thats neat. There is also of course MALD.
By: ELP - 29th November 2006 at 11:35
I agree the AMRAAM approach would be more expensive than something like a SDB but might be desireable compared to the cost of a HARM, not to mention that if fired from a F-22 the advantages of stealth, supercruise, etc will apply.
The tremendous advantage the USAF enjoys is that he has so many ways to skin a cat.. it makes sense though to use the most cost-effective solution. Re the mini-cruise missile, maybe this is something for a LOCAAS-like weapon.. of w/c there are a couple in development.
Well…. base AMRAAM is pricey…. don’t know if a multi-role based on AMRAAM will be cheaper than HARM… of course the AMRAAM body fits inside.
By: aurcov - 29th November 2006 at 09:33
Off topic, I am surprised someone hasn’t come up with a short range mini cruise missile on the size of the currently fielded Israeli Delilah or something on the order of the old canceled Tacit Rainbow ( AGM-136 ) to fit inside the weapons bay of the F-22.
You mean something like this: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/wms/findPage.do?dsp=fec&ci=16986&rsbci=13640&fti=124&ti=0&sc=400 ? 🙂
By: mabie - 29th November 2006 at 09:32
Bring it on or someone here had a post already about the multi-role variant of the AMRAAM thinking. In the case of an AMRAAM like weapon being used for something like that….. it has to be an awfully important ground target for someone to use such an expensive weapon on. AMRAAMs aren’t cheap. I am sure such weapons will be limited to how they will be used based on cost. Everything we do today is even more hyper-cost driven. A multi-role A2A/A2G missile as mentioned above may happen someday but again it is all about cost. Of course when it comes to doing something like taking out targets for SEAD/DEAD missions, or GPS jammers, cost is less of an issue.
Off topic, I am surprised someone hasn’t come up with a short range mini cruise missile on the size of the currently fielded Israeli Delilah or something on the order of the old canceled Tacit Rainbow ( AGM-136 ) to fit inside the weapons bay of the F-22.
I agree the AMRAAM approach would be more expensive than something like a SDB but might be desireable compared to the cost of a HARM, not to mention that if fired from a F-22 the advantages of stealth, supercruise, etc will apply.
The tremendous advantage the USAF enjoys is that he has so many ways to skin a cat.. it makes sense though to use the most cost-effective solution. Re the mini-cruise missile, maybe this is something for a LOCAAS-like weapon.. of w/c there are a couple in development.
By: ELP - 29th November 2006 at 08:19
Interesting. Get this system to work really well, and you can adapt it to an AMRAAM and effectively have a multi-role missile. All you’d need to do to operate in full-on ARM mode is cue it using GPS coordinates derived from a SAR picture of wherever the RWR finds a hostile emitter.
Or of course a net-centric hand-off from another platform.
By: ELP - 29th November 2006 at 08:18
Yeah, get a lot more bang for the buck.. just a little exercise to write the necessary lines of code.. the AMRAAM has a 50lb warhead IIRC w/c should be sufficient against soft targets.. the test HARM missile destroyed its target w/o a warhead. A AIM-120D with its improved range and launched at super-cruise speed from 50,000+ feet would go a pretty long way.. a lot farther and faster than SDB with diamondback kit.
Bring it on or someone here had a post already about the multi-role variant of the AMRAAM thinking. In the case of an AMRAAM like weapon being used for something like that….. it has to be an awfully important ground target for someone to use such an expensive weapon on. AMRAAMs aren’t cheap. I am sure such weapons will be limited to how they will be used based on cost. Everything we do today is even more hyper-cost driven. A multi-role A2A/A2G missile as mentioned above may happen someday but again it is all about cost. Of course when it comes to doing something like taking out targets for SEAD/DEAD missions, or GPS jammers, cost is less of an issue.
Off topic, I am surprised someone hasn’t come up with a short range mini cruise missile on the size of the currently fielded Israeli Delilah or something on the order of the old canceled Tacit Rainbow ( AGM-136 ) to fit inside the weapons bay of the F-22.
By: mabie - 29th November 2006 at 06:37
Interesting. Get this system to work really well, and you can adapt it to an AMRAAM and effectively have a multi-role missile. All you’d need to do to operate in full-on ARM mode is cue it using GPS coordinates derived from a SAR picture of wherever the RWR finds a hostile emitter.
Yeah, get a lot more bang for the buck.. just a little exercise to write the necessary lines of code.. the AMRAAM has a 50lb warhead IIRC w/c should be sufficient against soft targets.. the test HARM missile destroyed its target w/o a warhead. A AIM-120D with its improved range and launched at super-cruise speed from 50,000+ feet would go a pretty long way.. a lot farther and faster than SDB with diamondback kit.
By: SOC - 29th November 2006 at 05:10
Interesting. Get this system to work really well, and you can adapt it to an AMRAAM and effectively have a multi-role missile. All you’d need to do to operate in full-on ARM mode is cue it using GPS coordinates derived from a SAR picture of wherever the RWR finds a hostile emitter.
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November 29, 2006 at 5:00 am