The US Navy's new anti-radar missile, the AARGM-ER (Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile – Extended Range) hit Milestone-C (MS-C) last Monday (23). Now, the new armament should start to be produced in the coming months, informed the Command of Naval Air Systems (NAVAIR).
According to the organization, the Navy should hire two batches of low cadence initial production (LRIP) in the coming months. The information comes just over a month after the US Navy conducted the first actual firing of an AARGM-ER, employing an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter at the event.
“The combined government/industry team has worked tirelessly over the past few years to achieve this milestone,” said Captain Alex Dutko, program manager for Direct and Time Sensitive Strike (PMA-242). “We look forward to delivering this new weapon with its increased capability and lethality to the fleet as soon as possible.”
According to NAVAIR, the MS-C decision comes just over two years after the Navy awarded the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract to its prime contractor, Northrop Grumman. Captive and actual flight testing is planned to continue through 2022, with the weaponry expected to reach initial operational capability from 2023.
The Navy is working on integrating the AARGM-ER into the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler, so that in the future it will be compatible for integration into the F-35 Lightning II. Leveraging the US Navy's AARGM program, the AARGM-ER with a new rocket engine and warhead will provide advanced capability to detect and engage enemy air defense systems.
The AARGM-ER is the newest version of the AGM-88E AARGM. The program, led by the Navy, brings a new rocket engine, greater autonomy, new systems and sensors and other innovations to the missile that must be used in SEAD/DEAD (Suppression/Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses) missions, having as main target the enemy radar antennas.
