AARGM is a supersonic, air-launched tactical missile that will be integrated on the F/A-18 C/D, F/A-18 E/F, EA-18G and Tornado IDS/ECR aircraft. The missile is also being designed to be compatible with the EA-6B and U.S. and Allied F-16, and F-35 JSF aircraft. Its advanced multi-sensor system, including a Millimeter Wave (MMW) terminal seeker, advanced digital Anti-Radiation Homing (ARH) receiver and a GPS/INS, is capable of rapidly engaging traditional and advanced enemy air defense targets as well as non-radar time-sensitive strike targets.
The AARGM MMW seeker can operate in concert with the ARH to counter RF shutdown tactics or in a stand-alone mode to discriminate non-emitting time sensitive targets. AARGM is a network-enabled weapon that directly receives tactical intelligence information via an embedded data link and provides near real-time Weapon Impact Assessment (WIA) reports.
In May 2007 of this year, AARGM demonstrated its significant capability by successfully completing a development-phase guided missile test firing at the Naval Air Warfare Center China Lake, California test range. The success of the AARGM System Development and Demonstration (SD&D) phase builds on the tradition of success established with the Quick Bolt Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) and AARGM Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) phases of the program. During these earlier program phases, AARGM was seven of seven in a series of successful missile firing tests. The AARGM program plans a series of additional launches during the SD&D phase and expects to begin Low Rate Initial Production in FY08.
Alliant Techsystems (NYSE:ATK) and German defense contractor MBDA LFK-Lenkflugkorpersysteme GmbH will jointly pursue potential international sales of the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM). The cooperation focuses particularly on the interest of the German Ministry of Defense in product improvement of the AARGM and additional derivatives of the AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM). Italy has already partnered with ATK on the AARGM two years ago.
The U.S. Navy, and the Italian Air Force performed two missile firing tests of the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) on August 2008. The tests were performed at the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, as part of the missile’s Operational Assessment, preceding a forthcoming ‘Milestone C’ Decision to begin Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP). The recent test involved an operationally realistic scenario, where AARGM’s demonstrated its lethality against modern, advanced air defense systems employing shutdown tactics.
AGM-88E Completes System Development and Demonstration (SDD) program
Alliant Techsystems, the U.S. Navy and the Italian Air Force successfully completed development testing (DT) of the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) in August 2009. The eights and final AARGM DT shot was launched from a U. S. Navy FA-18C Hornet in a scenario designed to test the missile’s capabilities to maneuver and perform in a short time-of-flight profile under heavily counter-measured conditions. During missile flight, AARGM successfully detected, identified, and located an enemy air defense unit (ADU) using its anti-radiation-homing (ARH) receiver. Additionally the missile demonstrated its designed ability to minimize collateral damage and friendly fire by navigating clear of pre-planned impact avoidance zones. In the terminal phase, AARGM used its multi-mode sensor suite to overcome advanced target countermeasures, accurately guiding towards and directly hitting the enemy ADU target. AARGM Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) commenced in December 2008. Once Fleet IOC is established in November 2010, AARGM will be the only tactical extended-range, supersonic, multi-role strike weapon in U.S. and Italian inventory.
