EW Academy · Contents · Chapter 15 · Nederlandse versie
Chapter 15: SEAD & DEAD
The offensive counterpart of the IADS (§ 8): suppressing (SEAD) or destroying (DEAD) enemy air defences. Breaking the detect–track–engage kill chain, anti-radiation missiles, decoys, stand-off vs stand-in jamming, Wild Weasel and burn-through, with a calculator.
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15.1Introduction: SEAD vs DEAD
Where the chapter on the Fire Control Sequence and the IADS ( Executing the fire control sequence using the EMS ) describes the defender — the integrated network of radars, command posts and SAM systems — this chapter is about the…
Read §15.1 →15.2Breaking the defender's kill chain
An IADS works as a chain. In doctrine and systems this is called the kill chain , with three core links (compare the Fire Control Sequence, Executing the fire control sequence using the EMS ):
Read §15.2 →15.3Anti-radiation missiles and the operator's dilemma
The classic SEAD/DEAD weapon is the anti-radiation missile (ARM), such as the American AGM-88 HARM (High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile). At its core this is passive homing ( Missile Guidance ): the missile seeks out the radar emission…
Read §15.3 →15.4Decoys and saturation
Destruction is not the only way. You can also deceive and exhaust the defence:
Read §15.4 →15.5Stand-off vs stand-in jamming
Jamming support for an attack comes in roughly two geometries, and the difference lies in where the jammer is relative to the threat range .
Read §15.5 →15.6Wild Weasel: the SEAD specialists
The specialised SEAD role has historically been called Wild Weasel , born in the Vietnam War when SAMs first became a mass threat. The motto is “first in, last out” : the Weasels are the first to enter the threatened area to lure out and…
Read §15.6 →15.7Burn-through and the J/S ratio
In the radar's receiver two signals compete: the echo from the target and the jammer's noise. Whichever is stronger wins. A jammer flying along with the target wins at long range, but loses as the radar gets closer.
Read §15.7 →15.8Scenario: a strike package penetrates an IADS
A worked scenario that brings the separate techniques together. A package of combat aircraft has to reach a target behind a layered air defence ( Threat-reference deck ):
Read §15.8 →