Missile AGM-78 Standard ARM
Summary
| Category | Air-to-Surface Missile |
| Sub-type | Anti-radar missile |
| Origin country | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Manufacturer | Raytheon / Hughes |
Technical specifications
| AGM-78 Standard ARM | |
|---|---|
| Warhead | High Explosive / Fragmentation |
| Warhead Weight | 101 kg |
| Diameter | 343 mm (13.5 in) |
| Span | 914 mm (36.0 in) |
| Length | 4572 mm (180.0 in) |
| Weight | 817 kg (1801 lb) |
| Range | 120 km (75 mi) |
Description
The AGM-78 Standard ARM (Anti-Radiation Missile) was an American-made missile designed for the suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD). Developed in the late 1960s, the AGM-78 was based on the RIM-66 Standard surface-to-air missile and was intended to replace the AGM-45 Shrike for SEAD missions. It was primarily used by the U.S. Air Force and Navy, and it has since been phased out in favor of more modern anti-radiation missiles like the AGM-88 HARM.
The AGM-78 was notable for its ability to lock onto enemy radar emissions and follow these emissions to their source, thereby taking out the radar installations and weakening enemy air defenses. Unlike some other anti-radiation missiles of its era, the AGM-78 had the ability to 'remember' the radar's location even if it was turned off, a feature known as "home-on-shut-down," although this was less reliable than modern equivalents.
The missile was significantly larger and more expensive than its predecessor, the AGM-45 Shrike, but offered greater range and payload. It could carry a sizable warhead, making it effective against various types of radar installations and surface-to-air missile (SAM) sites.
Despite its capabilities, the AGM-78 had its drawbacks. It was costly to produce, which limited the numbers that could be procured. It was also a large missile, meaning aircraft could carry fewer AGM-78s compared to other anti-radiation missiles. Additionally, its technology became increasingly dated, and by the 1980s, it was largely supplanted by the more advanced and more versatile AGM-88 HARM.