U.S. Approves $144M HARM Missile Upgrade Sale to U.A.E.

The U.S. State Department approved a $144 million arms deal with the U.A.E. to enhance their defense capabilities through High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) Control Section Modification (HCSM) upgrade kits and associated equipment.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) formally notified Congress of the proposed sale, highlighting the U.A.E.'s request for 149 WCU-33/B HCSM upgrade kits, alongside high bandwidth telemetry kits to support integration efforts within the continental U.S. (CONUS) exclusively. The contract includes the provision of related equipment and support.

The U.A.E. is considered a pivotal partner in the Middle East for political and economic advancement, and this proposed sale is designed to further fortify its capacity to deter threats and safeguard its borders and critical infrastructure, the Pentagon said in a release. The primary contractor for this initiative is RTX Corporation, headquartered in Tucson, Arizona.

The AGM-88 HARM is an air-to-surface missile that targets electronic transmissions from surface-to-air radar systems. Originally developed by Texas Instruments to replace the AGM-45 Shrike and AGM-78 Standard ARM, production was later managed by Raytheon after acquiring Texas Instruments' defense production business. The missile autonomously detects and destroys radar transmitters with a fixed antenna and seeker head in the nose, propelled by a smokeless, solid-propellant rocket motor at speeds exceeding Mach 2. It is deployed by the Air Force and is a joint project with the U.S. Navy.

The HARM Control Section Modification (HCSM) integrates satellite and inertial navigation for precise targeting, preventing engagement in designated exclusion zones even if targets switch off or decoys activate. This upgrade enhances capabilities against counter-HARM tactics and minimizes collateral damage and fratricide. Developed by Raytheon, the HCSM AGM-88F successfully engaged targets despite distractions within exclusion zones, crucial for avoiding friendly forces or non-combatants. This upgrade sustains the HARM program alongside the U.S. Navy's pursuit of the AGM-88E AARGM.