AGM-122 Sidearm

AGM-122 Sidearm
An AGM-122 Sidearm missile on a US Marine Corps Bell AH-1T SeaCobra helicopter in 1981
Type Air-to-surface 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 blast-fragmentation[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 NAWS, 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. The missile was primarily fielded aboard marine corps AH-1 helicopters, and AV-8b jump jets, and could take the place of self defense air to air missiles. The weapon retained the same warhead of the AIM-9C, which gave it fairly limited destructive ability against armored vehicles. However, due to the nature of radiation homing missiles, the AGM-122 aimed for the radar emitter directly, all but guaranteeing the operational elimination of the target.

The Sidearm was primarily intended for use against short range radar guided anti-aircraft artillery and shorter range SAMs, including those fired by vehicles. The missile was capable of tracking a target even if it was moving.

See also

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
  • Rogoway, T. (2017, June 29). The AGM-122 "Sidearm" Came To Be From A Novel Missile Recycling Scheme. Retrieved April 14, 2018, from http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/12009/the-agm-122-sidearm-came-to-be-from-a-novel-missile-recycling-schem

  • Bonds, Ray and David Miller. Illustrated Directory of Modern American Weapons. Zenith Imprint, 2002. ISBN 0-7603-1346-6.

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