Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses
MILITARY TACTIC
Suppression of Enemy Air Defences; Suppression of Enemy Air Defence; Suppression of enemy air defense; Suppression of enemy air defenses; SEAD; Suppression of enemy air defences; Suppression of Enemy Air Defense; Supression of enemy air defenses; Suppressing enemy air defense
Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD, pronounced ), also known in the United States as "Wild Weasel" and (initially) "Iron Hand" operations, are military actions to suppress enemy surface-based air defenses, including not only surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) and anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) but also interrelated systems such as early-warning radar and command, control and communication (C3) functions, while also marking other targets to be destroyed by an air strike. Suppression can be accomplished both by physically destroying the systems or by disrupting and deceiving them through electronic warfare.