Zephyr Net

not that many, remember it has giant fins. HOPEFULLY the AARGM Quickbolt program will give it a different airframe, an AMRAAM or Mica style so that it can be carried in multiple like Alarm. But I'm afraid we'll get the old HARM frame

I'm no fan of Alarm I was just referancing it's small size and multiple carriage ability. They both suck, I'm not convinced the GPS addition has helped HARM much since it's warhead isnt big enough to make up for a 20 to 30 ft miss with GPS

The current upgrade effort for HARM is known as Block VI, an international collaboration by the U.S. (Raytheon), Germany (BGT), and Italy (Alenia). The main improvement of HARM Block VI will be the incorporation of a GPS navigation system. This will greatly increase accuracy when radar lock is lost after emitter switch-off, because the GPS guidance keeps the missile within a narrow box towards the last known emitter position. This is especially desirable in wars, where enemy radar installations are deliberately placed near sensitive civilian areas, like schools or hospitals. This often prevented the use of earlier HARM missiles in the Kosovo campaign, because a deviation after radar loss could lead to unacceptable collateral damage. Using GPS guidance as a primary means of homing on the target, Block VI HARMs could even be used as general purpose high-speed precision ground attack missiles. AGM-88Cs upgraded to Block VI standard will be known as AGM-88D in U.S. service. Germany and Italy, which mainly have older AGM-88Bs in stock, will refer to their upgraded missiles as AGM-88B Block IIIB. The AGM-88D is currently in the EMD phase, and IOC is planned for 2003.

A more advanced HARM update program is known as AGM-88E AARGM (Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile). The AARGM is a further improved Block VI missile, which uses not only the AGM-88D's GPS but also an MMV (Millimeter Wave) active radar seeker for terminal homing in its new WGU-48/B guidance section. The MMW seeker will employ active target recognition algorithms, and therefore be able to strike not only the radar emitter, but also e.g. the control vehicle of the site. The program started at the NWC (Naval Weapons Center) China Lake in 1998, and in March 2000, the first test firing of the MMW seeker in a modified HARM was successful. AARGM development continues with modified AGM-88 missiles, and an SD&D (System Development & Design) contract for the production AARGM was awarded to ATK (Alliant Techsystems Inc.) in June 2003. Developmental testing of the AGM-88E is scheduled for 2005, with a planned Initial Operational Capability in 2008. The CATM-88E will be the captive-carry training variant. A long term goal of the AARGM program is the development of an entirely new stealthy airframe, compatible with the internal weapon bays of the F-22 and Joint Strike Fighter.

wrongo man, the article only states that the GPS HARM is MORE accurate than HARM AFTER a RADAR has been turned off. When the RF goes dead HARM can miss by perhaps hundreds of yards(or more) depending on how early the missle loses it's lock. As long as the RADAR stays lit the HARM is MORE than accurate enough, even the older versions went right through the RADAR dish, the warhead increase was done in part to help dissable the vehicles associated with the RADAR rather than only destroy the dish which could be easily replaced.
The AARGM/Quickbolt is one of my favorite programs right now, I just wish they would update the old airframe for the new seeker so it could be carried in multiple by TAC jets.

P.S. WAAS and DGPS are the only ways to get those super accurate GPS numbers, and I think they have to be set up 300 miles or less from the target (enemies are frequently loath to allow you to set up transmitters inside thier country to help you with your targeting LOLOL )