The Navy and Orbital ATK [OA] successfully hit a mobile ship target during a Block 1 upgrade test firing of the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) in August, the company said Sept. 23.
The AARGM shot was launched from a Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet on Aug. 18 at the Point Mugu Sea Range, the company said. The test was designed to test the missile’s capabilities against mobile ship targets using advanced tactics.
The AARGM used its advanced anti-radiation homing sensor and millimeter wave radar to detect, identify, locate, and engage the moving maritime target, Orbital ATK said.
The AARGM is a supersonic air-launched tactical missile system that is an upgrade from the legacy AGM-88 HARM systems. It can engage both land and sea-based air defense systems. The new missile provides in-cockpit, real-time electronic order of battle situational awareness against modern surface-to-air threats, the company said.
“The block upgrade testing demonstrated that the hardware, software and aircraft systems all worked together resulting in the successful live fire of the weapon. We look forward to rolling out these upgrades throughout the fleet, upon the successful completion of follow-on operational testing,” Bill Kasting, vice president and general manager of the defense electronic systems division of the defense system’s group at Orbital ATK, said in a statement.
“This first Block 1 live fire test demonstrated the weapon’s effectiveness against a moving ship. This is the first live-fire test in a series of live-fire and captive-carry events that will assess the missile’s software modifications made to deliver new capabilities to the warfighter,” said Gordon Turner, vice president strike weapons.
Orbital ATK’s participation occurred as a member of the Navy’s Integrated Product Team, which is managed by the Direct and Time Sensitive Strike Program Office. The Block 1 upgrade test was led by team members from the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division – China Lake, the company said. Test team members also included Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division–Point Mugu, Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Three One, and the Naval Air Systems Command.
The AARGM is an international cooperative major acquisition program for the U.S. Navy and Italian Air Force. The Navy is the executive agent in the program. The missile is currently deployed with the Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, with Initial Operating Capability achieved in July 2012 and approved for full-rate production in September 2012.
AARGM is integrated into the weapons systems of the F/A-18C/D Hornet, FA-18E/F Super Hornet, and EA-18G Growler. The missiles are expected to achieve initial operational capacity (IOC) on the Italian Air Force’s Tornado ECR in 2017.