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TheAN/ASQ-213[1]HARM targeting system (HTS) is atargeting pod mounted to either of the engine inlet hardpoints of anF-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. It enables the aircraft to track the location of hostileradar systems in any weather, and identify them to allow for usage of theAGM-88 HARM missile or other air-to-ground weapons.[2] It greatly assists inSuppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) andDestruction of Enemy Air Defenses (DEAD) operations, wheresurface-to-air missile (SAM) sites are directly attacked or threatened, and therefore suppressed, by aircraft carryinganti-radar missiles and other munitions. While the firing of anti-radar missiles (AGM-88 HARM) in Harm As Sensor (HAS) mode, an HTS pod greatly reduces the workload of the pilot, increases the precision of the HARM, and allows HARMs to be fired while pointed away from the SAM site being attacked when in Equation of Motion (EOM) mode.[3]
As an aircraft maneuvers closer to a SAM site and is scanned by the radar for longer periods, the quality of the HTS pod's report of the location of the SAM site increases. This is represented by the PGM (Position Quality) number.[citation needed] A single F-16 is capable of attaining a PGM5 track, the lowest quality track, up to PGM2. When combined with the F-16'sLink 16 datalink system, a team of aircraft is capable ofPseudo-range multilateration to obtain the position of SAM systems with a high degree of accuracy, allowing for the highest quality track, PGM1.[3]
In combat, the pod displays therange,bearing, and type of threats to the aircraft in relation to itself. During flight, the pilot may adjust the area scanned by the pod as well as thefrequencies scanned to optimize threat detection and ranging.[citation needed]
After the deactivation of the successfulEF-4C Wild Weasel IV, the contract for the creation of the HTS pod was awarded toTexas Instruments (The defense business of which was sold toRaytheon in 1997 for $2.95 Billion USD).
After the successes of the original design of the HTS pod, future upgraded variants featured vastly improved ranging speed and improved threat identification, as well as improving the frequency covered and the number of targets which could be tracked at once.[4]
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