AGM-78 Standard ARM
The U.S. Navy introduced in 1968, developed by General Dynamics AGM -78 Standard ARM as anti-radar air - to-ground missile in service. The AGM -78 was developed as an extension for the AGM -45 Shrike from the RIM -66. The first version of the standard ARM in the Navy, there also called STARM was nothing more than the air -to-ground version of the RIM -66, which was only equipped with an anti- radar homing head. However, the AGM -78 had one drawback - it was much more expensive than the Shrike.
In 1969, the production was switched to the AGM- 78B. In the B variant the original seeker head and part of the electronics has been replaced. Thus, the rocket now had the ability to also attack radar sites, which had been turned off. For this purpose, " noted " the AGM, the position of an activated radar. Since the B variant but still did not meet the expectations of the military, the C variant was developed in 1971. The main objective of a program funded by the United States Air Force was to make the missile more effective and cheaper. As early as 1973, however, was begun with the development of the D variant. There the electronics has been improved again and now used a 100kg warhead. The U.S. armed forces replaced the late 1980s, the standard ARM by the much better AGM -88 HARM. How many AGM -78 were built in versions A to D until the end of production in 1978, is not exactly known, as there is conflicting information ( 700-3000 ). The B variant, however, was most commonly used.
Although the AGM -78 was not as successful, parts have been used by it in other projects. One of these projects was the RGM - 66D, which was a mix of RIM -66 and AGM -78. With the AIM 97 Seekbat the frame structure of the standard arm was used.
Similar Models
- AGM -45 Shrike
- AGM -88 HARM