AGM-45 Shrike
The AGM-45 "Shrike" is the first missile built specifically for the anti-radar
mission to be mass produced in the United States. It's sole purpose is to home in on enemy
radar emissions and destroy the source. Over 20,000 Shrikes were produced from 1962
onward. The Shirke has several major limitations that reduce its effectiveness. The major
limitation is that the Shrike must be pointed towards the desired target radar during
launch, and that the radar must continue to radiate, or the Shrike will lose its lock. The
Shrike is now being replaced by the much improved
AGM-88
HARM.
The Shrike first entered service with the U.S. in 1963.
| General characteristics |
| Contractor |
Texas Instruments, Sperry Rand/Univac |
| Weight |
missile |
390 lb |
177 kg |
| warhead |
145 lb |
66 kg |
| Length |
10 ft |
3.05 m |
| Diameter |
8 in |
20.3 cm |
| Wingspan |
3 ft |
91.5 cm |
| Guidance |
Radar-homing |
| Power plant |
Rocketdyne Mk 39 or Aerojet Mk 53 polybutadiene solid-fuel
rocket |
| Speed |
Mach 2 |
2,387 km/h |
| Range |
AGM-45A |
10 miles |
16 km |
| AGM-45B |
28.8 miles |
46 km |
| Warhead |
conventional high-explosive/fragmentation |
Jirka Wagner
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