SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses): A military operation designed to neutralize, destroy, or temporarily degrade enemy air defense systems to allow friendly aircraft to operate with reduced risk. SEAD missions typically target surface-to-air missileSurface-to-Air Missile: A ground-based or ship-launched guided missile system designed to detect, track, and destroy enemy aircraft, helicopters, crui... More (SAMSurface-to-Air Missile: A ground-based or ship-launched guided missile system designed to detect, track, and destroy enemy aircraft, helicopters, crui... More) sites, anti-aircraft artillery, early warning radars, and command and control nodes. These operations may involve direct attacks with anti-radiation missiles, electronic warfare jamming, or other tactics to suppress enemy air defenses during a specific timeframe or mission. SEAD is often distinguished from DEAD (Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses), which focuses on permanently destroying air defense assets rather than temporarily suppressing them.
