Russian Soldiers have found the wreckage of a U.S.-made AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile, or HARM, on their position following a Ukrainian missile strike.
The AGM-88 HARM is an air-to-surface passive sensor missile designed to seek and destroy enemy radar-equipped air defense systems.
The affiliation of the wreckage to this type of missile can be proved by an inscription on a piece of the remaining tail spotted on the photo circulated widely on social media.
The photo shows what appears to be a BSU-60 A/B stabilization of AGM-88 HARM missile with Serial Number QLN 406384.
The AGM-88 can detect, attack and destroy a target with minimum aircrew input. The proportional guidance system that hones in on enemy radar emissions has a fixed antenna and seeker head in the missile nose. A smokeless, solid-propellant, dual-thrust rocket motor propels the missile.
According to some reports, like one from The WarZone, Ukrainian Army used a HARM missile in a land-based configuration.
On top of that, Ukraine’s defense minister Oleksiy Reznikov was quoted by Ukrainian media as recently saying anti-radiation missiles would be sent to Ukraine during a national address:
“… we will get special anti-radar missiles that we did not have before. This will allow you and I to effectively destroy their [the enemy’s – ed.] radar system, essentially blinding the enemy, which will give us the opportunity to gain an advantage for a counteroffensive.”
It still isn’t clear if this is related to the HARM development, but it would seem very possible. The $270M aid package Reznikov is referring to was announced in late July.