0.0 SEAD Introduction

What is SEAD?

Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses is an offensive counter air operation involving military actions intended to neutralize, degrade, or destroy enemy surface-based air defense systems through kinetic, disruptive, or electromagnetic means.

Context - SEAD Aircraft Pedigree: Past, Present, and Future

As airpower has developed this past century, countering this force projection from the ground has grown as natural outcome. SEAD which enables the projection of air power in nonpermissive environments has also undergone evolutionary changes and is a vital component of modern strategy. Historical conflicts such as Vietnam, Bekaa Valley, Operation El Dorado Canyon in Libya, Operation Desert Storm in Iraq, Operation Deliberate Force in Bosnia, Operation Allied Force in Kosovo and others provide some context and insight into SEAD strategy, tactics, and execution. 

Early SEAD platforms such as the F-105F were limited in detection, direction-finding, and destructive capabilities. Throughout Vietnam, a variety of advancements were made in sensors, weapons, and aircraft capabilities. A full analysis on the advancements made in Vietnam and other conflicts is beyond the scope of this thread. Moreover, there have been numerous books written on the subject which have been incredibly insightful and can likely articulate the lessons learned far more accurately and concisely. Nonetheless, it’s safe to say the modern block 50/52 F-16Cs equipped with HTS, ARMs, and PGMs come from a rich pedigree of SEAD aircraft, combat experience, and lessons learned.  However, as previously discussed, air defense capabilities are not static and modern and future air defense systems boast tremendous ranges and lethality. Some have argued the SEAD platforms of the future will utilize stealth to penetrate A2/AD zones. Another theoretical approach is the use of AI controlled UAS to saturate air defenses and overwhelm the enemy through sheer volume. While the future of SEAD is unclear, hopefully this provides some context to where we’ve been, where we are, and where we could be headed.