It would appear some good old U.S. (and Ukrainian) ingenuity has gone into the apparently successful integration of the digitally dependent Raytheon AGM-88 high-speed anti-radiation missile (HARM) into the completely analog MiG-29s of the Ukrainian air force. The potent weapon, which is designed to home in on and take out radar-guided surface-to-air missiles, is now being used by UAF pilots to clear the way for air strikes against the Russians. And it would appear the solution was some off-the-shelf avionics that might be found in your average Cessna 172.
Along with video of the missiles leaving the rails of the MiG-29, the footage released by the Ukrainians shows a shot of the cockpit sporting a portable GPS. Although no details have been released about the installation, it’s speculated the missile’s sensors are linked to the GPS to give targeting information to the pilot. The missile normally reports to the aircraft’s MFD and gives the pilot a list of radiation emitters, one of which is selected for destruction. In the MiG installation, the tablet and GPS may substitute for the MFD.
Great stuff!!
For anyone who feels the need to explain HARM tech or TTPs further…please don’t. thx.
The Russians and Chinese already have planes with digital cockpits. Nothing to give away here. The point is the analog Mig 29’s do not, but the UAF found a workaround that didn’t involve redesigning the entire cockpit.
Military technology advances come with shelf-life limits whether you use the product or not, so long term you’re not really buying much by hoarding it. There’s also value in proving the stuff works – or doesn’t – in the real world.
In a bizarre sort of way, the Russian/Ukraine war is a great proving ground for the US military contractors. They get real-world testing of their weapons against a robust enemy without exposing American troops to harm. A relatively easy way to find out what works and what doesn’t.
It’s interesting to me to see various combinations of portable retail Garmin navigation instruments, e.g. (what I believe are) the GPSMAP 296, GPSMAP66s Handheld, and Area 660 all featured attached to the cockpit… or becoming un-attached, as the 296 fell off its mount at 0:41 into the video. 🙂
“which is designed to home in on and take out radar-guided surface-to-air missiles” is misleading. The AGM-88 is an air to surface missile designed to suppress radar guidance at anti-air missile sites, thereby defeating radar-guided surface-to-air missiles.
Otherwise, keep up the good work..!