American multinational aerospace and defense technology company Northrop Grumman Corporation has received a $153 million contract from the US Navy for full-rate production (FRP) of lots 10 and 11 of the AGM-88E2 advanced anti-radiation guided missile (AARGM).
AARGM is an advanced system for pilots against modern surface-to-air threats. Providing a combination of precision, survivability and lethality, the system is able to rapidly engage land- and sea-based air-defense threats, as well as striking, time-sensitive targets, according to the company.
As a prime contractor, Northrop Grumman also is developing the advanced anti-radiation guided missile – extended range (AARGM-ER) in partnership with the US Navy.
Specifically, the AARGM-ER will include a new rocket motor and warhead to provide an advanced capability to detect and engage enemy air defense systems. The missile is currently deployed with the US Navy and US Marine Corps on the F/A-18C/D Hornet, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, and US Navy and Royal Australian Air Force EA-18G Growler aircraft; AARGM is also integrated on the Italian Air Force’s Tornado Electronic Combat aircraft.
Under the latest contract, the defense company will produce the AARGM for the US Navy and German Air Force.
So far, Northrop Grumman has produced more than 1,500 AARGM missiles for the international cooperative acquisition program with the US Navy (serving as the executive agent) and the Italian Air Force. The missiles provide a supersonic, air-launched tactical missile system that upgrades legacy AGM-88 HARM systems with advanced capability to perform suppression and destruction of enemy air defense systems, the company also noted.
In June this year, the firm delivered the AN/SLQ-32(V)7 Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP) Block 3 engineering and development model (EDM) to the US Navy for land-based testing.