AGM-122 Sidearm

AGM-122 Sidearm

China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station test range, an AGM-122 about to strike a radar fixture (mounted above the M41 Walker Bulldog's bustle rack)
Type Anti-radiation missile
Place of origin United States
Service history
In service 1986
Production history
Manufacturer Motorola
Specifications
Weight 195 lb (88.5 kg)[1]
Length 9 ft 5 in (2.870 m)[1]
Diameter 5 in (127.0 mm)[1]
Warhead 25 lb (11.3 kg) WDU-31/B Continuous-rod warhead[1]
Engine Hercules Mk 36 Mod 11 solid fuel rocket
Wingspan 24.8 in (629.9 mm)[1]
Operational
range
 18,044 yd (16.5 km)[1]
Speed Mach 2.3[1]
Guidance
system
 Narrow-band passive radar seeker
Launch
platform
 AV-8B Harrier
AH-1 Super Cobra
AH-64 Apache
Other aircraft

The AGM-122 Sidearm was an American air-to-surface anti-radiation missile produced between 1986 and 1990. Not as capable as newer anti-radiation missiles, they were cheaper and lighter in weight allowing more versatile deployment.

Development

The AGM-122 Sidearm was produced by the re-manufacture of AIM-9C missiles that had been taken out of service. The AIM-9C was a semi-active radar homing variant of the Sidewinder, developed for the US Navy's Vought F-8 Crusader, but used for only a limited period of time. Conceived and developed at China Lake NAWC, the Sidearm was first tested in 1981. In 1984, Motorola was issued a contract to convert and upgrade AIM-9Cs to AGM-122A standard. A total of about 700 units were produced between 1986 and 1990.

Existing stocks of Sidearm have been depleted, and the missile is no longer in service. Proposals for new-build missiles, under the designation AGM-122B, have not been proceeded with to date.

The AGM-122 was less capable than newer antiradiation missiles, such as the AGM-88 HARM, but also substantially cheaper, and its lighter weight enabled it to be carried by combat helicopters as well as fighter aircraft and fighter bombers.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to AGM-122 Sidearm.

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Andreas, Parsch (8 November 2002). "Motorola AGM-122 Sidearm". Designation-Systems.Net. Archived from the original on 23 September 2010. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
Bibliography

External links

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