U.S. Navy’s AARGM-ER to enter production

The U.S. Navy’s Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile – Extended Range (AARGM-ER) program received Milestone C (MS-C) approval on August 23, paving the way for the program to enter its first phase of production, NAVAIR announced.

It is anticipated that the first two low-rate initial production lots will be awarded in the coming months by the United States Navy.

“The combined government/industry team has worked tirelessly over the last few years to reach this milestone,” said Capt. Alex Dutko, Direct and Time Sensitive Strike (PMA-242) program manager. “We look forward to getting this new weapon with its increased capability and lethality out to the fleet as soon as possible.”

The decision on the MS-C comes just over two years after the Navy awarded the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract to Northrop Grumman, which was the prime contractor on the project. In July, the team conducted the first live-fire event to verify system integration and rocket motor performance, as well as to begin modelling and simulation validation, as part of their ongoing mission.

Tests in captivity and with live ammunition are expected to continue through 2022, with initial operational capability expected in 2023.

The Navy is integrating AARGM-ER into the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft, and it will be compatible with integration into the F-35 aircraft in the future. The AARGM-ER, which will be powered by a new rocket motor and warhead and will be based on the AARGM program of the United States Navy, will provide an advanced capability to detect and engage enemy air defence systems.

Check out Naval Library App to find out the specifications of the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile – Extended Range (AARGM-ER).