DEAD

Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses (DEAD) is the offensive counterpart to SEAD. While SEAD temporarily suppresses air defense systems to allow friendly aircraft to operate, DEAD seeks to permanently destroy radar sites, missile launchers, command centers, and supporting infrastructure so they can never threaten friendly aircraft again. DEAD missions use precision-guided munitions to eliminate specific targets identified through intelligence collection.

A typical DEAD campaign begins with signals intelligence aircraft mapping the locations and types of enemy radar systems. Strike aircraft then attack these systems using anti-radiation missiles that home in on radar emissions, followed by GPS-guided bombs to destroy the launchers, support vehicles, and hardened facilities that the radar systems depend on.

The distinction between SEAD and DEAD matters operationally. SEAD provides temporary windows of access, while DEAD progressively dismantles the enemy's ability to contest the airspace. A successful DEAD campaign, as demonstrated by coalition forces in the opening hours of Desert Storm, can achieve air superiority over an entire theater within days.