US Navy completes second flight test of AGM-88G air-to-surface Anti-Radiation Missile

News, US February 10, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

The U.S. Navy successfully completed the second flight test of AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile Extended Range (AARGM-ER), Northrop Grumman announced on February 8.

The missile was launched from F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft on January 21 at the Point Mugu Sea Range off the coast of southern California.

The Northrop Grumman release read: “The missile performed an extended range profile, engaging a land-based, emitter target staged at the range on San Nicholas Island”.

According to Navy Program Manager for Direct and Time Sensitive Strike (PMA-242), Captain A.C. Dutko, “This second flight test verified AARGM-ER’s ability to detect, identify, locate and engage a land-based air defense radar system from an extended range.”

“Through the exceptional efforts of our government/industry team, we are another step closer to delivering capability to suppress the most advanced adversary air-defense systems without putting our warfighters in danger,” Dutko added.

*^{A mock-up of the AARGM-ER Missile. (Image Credit: Joseph Trevithick/TheDrive)}*

Corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman Defense Systems Mary Petryszyn stated, “AARGM-ER provides the U.S. Navy with the capability to stay ahead of evolving threats. This flight test further demonstrated the critical capability of AARGM-ER to precisely engage long-range threats, while enabling launching aircrew to remain at a safe distance.”

According to the Northrop Grumman release, “AARGM-ER leverages existing state-of-the-art AARGM sensors, electronics and digital models with the addition of a new high-performance air vehicle, solid rocket motor propulsion system and advanced warhead.” It is being integrated into the U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler aircraft, and fifth-generation F-35A/B/C fighter jets.

Earlier in November 2021, the Northrop Grumman release stated that the company has produced “more than 1,500 AARGM missiles” for the international cooperative acquisition program with the U.S. Navy and the Italian Air Force. The missile provides a supersonic, air-launched tactical missile system that upgrades legacy AGM-88 HARM systems with advanced capability to perform suppression and destruction of enemy air defense systems, according to the statement.

In December 2021, Northrop Grumman received a $45.6M contract from the U.S. Navy for the second lot of Low-Rate Initial Production of AARGM-ER.