LAU-118/A pylon, external battery, cable and Raytheon assistance - how the AFU integrated AGM-88 HARM missiles into MiG-29 fighters

The Ukrainian Air Force has been using American AGM-88 HARM anti-radar missiles for weeks. And now it became known how it was possible to integrate the missiles into MiG-29 fighters.

Here's What We Know

In order for the Soviet aircraft, which are in service with the Air Force of Ukraine, to be able to use the American weapons, an unusual design had to be developed. A LAU-118/A pylon, designed specifically for the AGM-88 HARM, was attached to the standard pylon. During the flight the missile was not powered by the plane, but by an external battery which was attached to the body of the aircraft.

There is a cable to the cockpit, which has a radar sensor and a launch button. The sensor works 24/7 because it also receives power from an external battery. This solves the problem of outdated Soviet electronics in the MiG-29.

The launch range of the AGM-88 HARM is several tens of kilometers. The cockpit receives a signal as soon as the sensor detects enemy radar radiation. The pilot has to raise the nose of the plane by 20-30 degrees to launch.

The Israeli edition of Calcalist wrote about the HARM scheme on the MiG-29 fighters. The author of the article adds that Raytheon specialists helped successfully integrate the missiles. This is not officially confirmed, but a few weeks ago the Pentagon announced that the U.S. also participated in the integration of AGM-88.

Note that the Su-27 multi-purpose fighters are already capable of launching American anti-radar missiles as well. Apparently in this case the same scheme was used.

Source: Calcalist