U.S. Navy’s AARGM-ER Completes Second Missile Live Fire

The AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile Extended Range (AARGM-ER) developed by Northrop Grumman for the U.S. Navy has completed the second flight test.

The U.S. Navy launched the missile from an F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft on January 21 at the Point Mugu Sea Range off the coast of southern California. The missile performed an extended range profile, engaging a land-based, emitter target staged at the range on San Nicholas Island.

“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,” said Captain A.C. Dutko, Navy Program Manager for Direct and Time Sensitive Strike (PMA-242).

Since achieving a Milestone C Decision (authorization for Low-Rate Initial Production or LRIP) in September 2021, AARGM-ER prime contractor Northrop Grumman has continued to lead its industry team in development of a critically needed warfighting capability. Northrop Grumman is currently under contract to deliver production units of AARGM-ER to support a 2023 initial operational capability (IOC) fielding. In December 2021, Northrop Grumman received a $45.6M contract for the second lot of AARGM-ER LRIP.

AARGM-ER leverages existing AARGM sensors, electronics and digital models with the addition of a new air vehicle, solid rocket motor propulsion system and advanced warhead. It is being integrated on the Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft as well as F-35A/B/C aircraft.