The origins of ARM Defence Suppression and the AGM 45 Shrike Antiradar Missile | Historical Doc.

Welcome to an in-depth exploration of a critical, yet often overlooked, aspect of modern air warfare: Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD), and the pioneering weapon that brought this doctrine to the forefront – the AGM-45 Shrike anti-radiation missile (ARM). This documentary delves into the urgent need for SEAD, the birth of ARM technology, and the development, deployment, and impact of America's first operational anti-radar missile.

#SEAD #AGM45Shrike #WildWeasel #AntiRadiationMissile #AirDefense #USAF #usnavy

The concept of Defence Suppression, particularly SEAD, arose from the escalating threat posed by increasingly sophisticated surface-based air defense systems in the mid-20th century. As radar-guided Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs) like the Soviet SA-2 Guideline became prevalent, they presented a lethal danger to aircraft, capable of denying access to vast swathes of airspace. Incidents such as the downing of Francis Gary Powers' U-2 spy plane in 1960, and later, significant aircraft losses during the early stages of the Vietnam War, starkly illustrated the imperative to counter these advanced radar threats. Air superiority, and indeed the ability to conduct any effective air operations, hinged on neutralizing these ground-based defenses.

Enter the AGM-45 Shrike. Developed with urgency in the early 1960s by the U.S. Naval Weapons Center at China Lake, California, the Shrike was conceived as a direct countermeasure to enemy radar emitters. It was a passive radar homing missile, meaning its seeker head was designed to detect and "home in" on the radio frequency emissions from active enemy radar systems. Typically derived from a modified AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missile airframe, the Shrike was relatively simple but revolutionary for its time. Different versions of the Shrike were equipped with various seeker heads, each tuned to specific radar frequency bands used by known enemy systems, requiring careful mission planning and intelligence.

The AGM-45 Shrike became inextricably linked with the legendary "Wild Weasel" program. This highly dangerous, specialized SEAD mission saw brave U.S. Air Force and Navy aircrews in specially equipped aircraft – initially F-100 Super Sabres, then prominently F-105 Thunderchiefs, and later F-4 Phantom IIs – intentionally fly into high-threat areas to "bait" enemy SAM sites into activating their radars. Once a radar "painted" them, the Wild Weasel crews would launch a Shrike, using the brevity code "Magnum," to destroy or damage the radar, thereby blinding the SAM battery.

During the Vietnam War, the Shrike was used extensively. While it had its successes – forcing enemy radar operators into more cautious tactics (like shutting down their radars when ARM-equipped aircraft were detected, known as "going Winchester"), providing a degree of standoff protection, and destroying numerous radar vans – it also had significant limitations. Its effectiveness was hampered by the need for its seeker to match the target radar's frequency; if the enemy operated outside the Shrike's seeker band or changed frequencies, the missile could be rendered ineffective. Furthermore, if a targeted radar was switched off after the Shrike's launch, the missile would lose its guidance and fly ballistically. Its relatively short range and smaller warhead also constrained its capabilities compared to later generations of ARMs.

Despite these limitations, the AGM-45 Shrike was a groundbreaking weapon. It validated the anti-radiation missile concept, provided invaluable operational experience, and fundamentally changed air warfare tactics. The lessons learned from the Shrike's deployment directly influenced the development of more sophisticated and versatile ARMs, such as the AGM-78 Standard ARM and the highly successful AGM-88 HARM (High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile).

Join us as we uncover the story of SEAD, the technological ingenuity behind the AGM-45 Shrike, the courage of the Wild Weasel crews, and the enduring legacy of this pioneering missile system that paved the way for modern electronic warfare and defense suppression capabilities.

#VietnamWar #MilitaryHistory #archive

Видео The origins of ARM Defence Suppression and the AGM 45 Shrike Antiradar Missile | Historical Doc. канала DroneScapes