US Navy Pleased With Current Missile Supplier

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Orbital ATK has secured a contract worth roughly $350m with the US Navy for the production and supply of additional AGM-88E advanced anti-radiation guided missiles (AARGMs). According to a naval-technology.com report, the deal includes the supply of all-up round missiles and captive air training missiles for the US Navy, Italian Air Force and other allies via a series of foreign military sales orders.

Orbital ATK Defense Electronic Systems Division vice-president and general manager Cary Ralston said: “Today’s battlefield is rapidly evolving and the number of threats emerging around the world continues to grow. AARGM is an affordable solution that provides advanced capabilities to those protecting our nation and allies each and every day”.

The AARGM is a supersonic, air-launched tactical missile system designed to destruct enemy air defences. It is claimed to provide in-cockpit, real-time electronic order-of-battle situational awareness against modern surface-to-air threats. The missile system also has the ability to rapidly engage traditional and non-traditional advanced land and sea based air-defence threats, as well as striking time-sensitive targets.

AARGM is currently being deployed to help meet the operational requirements of the US Navy and US Marine Corps.

The missile has been integrated into the weapons systems of the FA-18C/D Hornet, FA-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircrafts. It is also expected to achieve initial operational capability on the Italian Air Force’s Tornado ECR aircraft in 2018.