The AN/ASQ-213[1] HARM targeting system is a targeting pod mounted to the right engine inlet hardpoint of an F-16 fighter jet that enables the aircraft to track the location of hostile radar systems in any weather, and identify them to allow for usage of the AGM-88 HARM or other air-to-ground weapons.[2]
In combat, the pod displays the range, bearing, and type of threats to the aircraft in relation to itself. During flight, the pilot may adjust the area scanned by the pod as well as the frequencies scanned to optimize threat detection and ranging.
Development
After the deactivation of the successful F4 Phantom which was the Wild Weasel IV, the contract for the creation of the HTS pod was awarded to Texas Instruments Corp (The defense business of which was sold to Raytheon in 1997 for $2.95 Billion USD).
After the successes of the original design of the HTS pod, future upgraded variants featured vastly improved ranging speed and improved threat identification, as well as improving the frequency covered and the number of targets which could be tracked at once.[3]
Reference
- โ "AN/ASQ-213 HARM Targeting Systems (HTS) - Smart Weapons". man.fas.org.
- โ "HARM targeting system ready ahead of schedule". www.af.mil. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012.
- โ "High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile Targeting System". Air Force. Retrieved 2023-12-14.