ATK’s Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) recently completed an initial flight integration test on the EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft in May and has completed multiple flight hours of integration testing on FA-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft.
This series of successful captive-carry tests is part of the process to validate the compatibility of AARGM with these platforms and to pave the way for all U.S. Navy strike aircraft to leverage AARGM’s defense suppression capability. With continued successful flight performance, AARGM is expected to complete the Navy’s Operational Test Readiness Review and transition into initial operational test and evaluation later this year.
“The AARGM team continues to make great progress in demonstrating missile reliability, affordability and overall performance,” said Bill Kasting, Vice President and General Manager of ATK Defense Electronics Systems. “We look forward to operational testing and ultimately delivering this game-changing capability to the warfighter.”
“AARGM’s defense suppression capability combined with the EA-18G Growler’s electronic warfare system creates a formidable advantage in joint and allied operations, and is another major step completed toward delivering AARGM capability to the Fleet,” said Capt. Brian Corey, PMA 242 Program Manager for Direct & Time Sensitive Strike Weapons. “AARGM is designed to dramatically increase the effectiveness of U.S. Navy and Italian Air Force capability to suppress and destroy enemy air defense threats. AARGM’s multi-spectral seeker and advanced control section can detect, locate, guide to, and engage both fixed and mobile enemy air defense units.”
The integration flights supported development testing of new aircraft software for the FA-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft, and were conducted in parallel with the ongoing AARGM Integrated Test & Evaluation (IT&E) phase on the FA-18 C/D aircraft.
AARGM’s precision capabilities allow for the destruction of modern enemy air defense systems, time-critical targets, and other mobile targets. AARGM’s unique combat capability significantly increases the probability of successful engagements, minimizes the chance of collateral damage and eliminates the need to fly continuous suppression sorties throughout the duration of a conflict.
AARGM, a major upgrade to the AGM-88 HARM system designated the AGM-88E, is a U.S. Navy and Italian Air Force international cooperative program. AARGM provides the warfighter with a supersonic, air-launched tactical missile to be carried on the FA-18C/D, FA-18E/F, EA-18G and Tornado ECR aircraft. The missile is also designed for compatibility with the F-35 Lightning II, EA-6B Prowler and U.S. and Allied F-16 Falcon aircraft. ATK is currently under contract with the U.S. Navy for the Low-Rate Initial Production phase of the AARGM program for both U.S. Navy and Italian Air Force missiles.
ATK is an aerospace, defense, and commercial products company with operations in 23 states, Puerto Rico, and internationally, and revenues of approximately $4.8 billion.
