SEAD
Military abbreviation · Military Term
| Stands for | Suppression of enemy air defenses |
|---|---|
| Categories | Military |
SEAD stands for Suppression of enemy air defenses, a military term abbreviation.
Missions that neutralize, destroy or temporarily degrade enemy surface-based air defenses, such as radar and missile sites, so friendly aircraft can operate. It usually precedes or accompanies strike missions.
Example: F-16s armed with anti-radiation missiles flew SEAD ahead of the strike package.
Usage notes
Pronounced "see-add." Destruction of enemy air defenses (DEAD) is a related term. US Air Force "Wild Weasel" crews originated the SEAD mission over North Vietnam in the 1960s. Electronic attack aircraft such as the EA-18G Growler also perform SEAD.
Related abbreviations
More military term abbreviations
- S-6 – Communications staff section
- SALUTE – Size, activity, location, unit, time, equipment
- SAP – Special access program
- SCI – Sensitive compartmented information
- SCIF – Sensitive compartmented information facility
- SDO – Staff duty officer
- SECDEF – Secretary of Defense
- SECNAV – Secretary of the Navy
- SERE – Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape
- SIGINT – Signals intelligence
- SIPRNet – Secret Internet Protocol Router Network
- SITREP – Situation report