We've got Americans confirming supply of anti-radiation missiles and Russians showing of fragments of AGM-88 HARM, an example of the breed (and indeed what the third three letters of the name stand for). We've also got a sudden uptick of claims of destroyed S-300s and other Russian SAMs, which would make sense. For those unfamiliar, anti-radiation missiles are designed to lock onto enemy radars, and can also lock onto other emissive equipment like electronic warfare systems.EACLucifer wrote: ↑Mon Aug 08, 2022 6:14 pmMeanwhile, it looks like AGM-88 HARM has been supplied for Ukraine's airforce.
This is a very effective missile, and will, over time, give the Ukrainian airforce more breathing room, as it is designed to not just destroy but also effectively suppress enemy air defences.
ETA: Just spotted this from last night. Melitopol, so 60+km behind the lines. Not an M31 GMLRS - their motors burn earlier in proceedings - could be a HARM in action?
This can be countered by switching the radar off and fleeing, however this still suppresses the radar, allowing other aircraft to then operate. This can also be exploited - during the NATO interventions in the Balkan wars, radar operators soon learned that the code word for launching an AGM-88 HARM was "Magnum". NATO pilots then found that a false call of "Magnum" could sometimes get the radar operators to switch off their systems. Naturally missile designers sought to counter this. The now retired British ALARM would fly up high and deploy a parachute and loiter, ready to strike if the radar came back on. Other approaches included just trying to remember where the radar was and get there fast. That's the approach used with later versions of AGM-88 HARM, which have GPS and inertial guidance modes too.
Theoretically, this could also allow them to be used as cruise missiles, too. HARM's range is over a hundred kilometres. I mention this specifically, as last night it looks like there was a strike well behind the lines. The target was Novooleksiivka in souther Kherson Oblast, and secondaries confirm it was an ammunition depot. There is another possibility, too. The cutting edge ER-GMLRS. This rocket is compatible with M142 HIMARS and M270 MLRS, and fits six to a pod, like the M31s already in use. However, this doesn't seem that likely. ER-GMLRS first test flew last March. It's not set to be in service until next year, and isn't yet in full rate production.
Whatever happened with Novooleksiivka, AGM-88 HARM is a big deal, and several details have meaningful implications of their own. Firstly, we only found out about it after it arrived in service. That's good, and I'm hoping for more pleasant surprises in that regard. Secondly, it is an in-service western weapon apparently integrated onto an existing Ukrainian plane. It can be done. With a little time and effort, it ought to be possible to do this for other munitions, too. Brimstone should be doable, and Hellfire likewise, the latter being more suited to helicopters and slower planes like the common Su-25 "Grach"/"Frogfoot". Dogfight missiles like the venerable but extremely effective AIM-9 Sidewinder also ought to be possible. Additionally, ground attack munitions like JDAMs and Small Diameter Bombs might be the easiest to fit of the lot, and the latter in particular allows for long range, hard hitting strikes against Russian positions and infrastructure targets like bridges.