Manned Destructive Suppression

Manned Destructive Suppression is a part of the Air Force's Research, Development, Test & Evaluation budget activity and aims to fund the development and sustainment of the Air Force's Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) and Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses (DEAD) capabilities. Specifically, it focuses on the F-16 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) Targeting System (HTS), which enables targeting the HARM missile in its most lethal 'range known' mode. The program provides F-16 Block 50/52 and Block 40/42 aircraft with the ability to employ the AN/ASQ-213 Pod and has a precision geo-location capability to target Precision Guided Munitions (PGMs) to destroy fixed and mobile enemy air defense elements. Additionally, it aims to continue upgrades for the HTS and applies technologies similar to those demonstrated in the Advanced Tactical Targeting Technologies (AT3) program and HTS R7 development.

The program's specific objectives include funding for risk reduction and software development engineering and manufacturing development efforts for the HTS Software Update Program (SWUP), flight testing, government flight test operations, mission planning in support of future SWUP efforts, and management services such as program management administration. The acquisition strategy involves ongoing efforts to keep the HTS pod capable in a growing threat environment through SWUP 3 and SWUP 4 contracts awarded for software updates and risk reduction. The program also includes future SWUP risk reduction efforts to address findings from the field, requested improvements from the warfighter, and other software changes to keep the HTS pod updated and mission capable.