'SEAD' originates from English, specifically the initial letters of the phrase 'Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses'.

'SEAD' developed in 20th-century military usage as air forces shortened the multiword phrase into an initialism to refer quickly to missions that neutralize enemy air defenses.

Initially it emphasized temporary suppression (for example, jamming or brief neutralization); over time it has been used more broadly to include both suppression and destruction and to denote the mission type generally.