US Navy awards Northrop Grumman contract for AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile

The US Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a $165 million contract for the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) full-rate production (FRP) in March.

Assets will include all-up round missiles for the US Navy and foreign military sales, as well as captive air training missiles.

AARGM is a supersonic, air-launched tactical missile system – upgrading legacy AGM-88 HARM systems – it offers an advanced capability to perform suppression and destruction of enemy air defence missions. The system can rapidly engage land- and sea-based air-defence threats, according to the company.

The missile is integrated into the weapons systems including the FA-18C/D Hornet, FA-18E/F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler aircraft and the Tornado Electronic Combat and Reconnaissance (ECR) aircraft in service with the Italian Air Force.

“AARGM provides the US Navy and allies unmatched protection to detect and defeat surface-to-air-threats regardless of threat tactics and capabilities,” said Gordon Turner, vice president, advanced weapons, Northrop Grumman.

AARGM is a US Navy and Italian Air Force international cooperative major defence acquisition program with the US.