ATK to produce second AARGM lot for US, Italy, Australia

The US Navy (USN) has awarded ATK a USD102.4 million contract for the second full-rate production lot of the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM).

The contract covers AARGM and Captive Air Training Missiles (CATMs) for the USN and the Italian Air Force, as well as CATMs for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), ATK announced on 11 October.

Anti-radiation missiles are used against surface-to-air missile (SAM) batteries to clear a path for a strike force. AARGM is an upgrade to the USN's legacy AGM-88B High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile inventory. AARGM provides in-cockpit, real-time electronic order-of-battle situational awareness. It is able to rapidly engage traditional and advanced land- and sea-based air-defence threats, as well as non-radar, time-sensitive targets.

The contract includes the RAAF's first Foreign Military Sales procurement of AARGM, according to ATK. The CATMs will be used for training purposes as the RAAF takes delivery of Boeing EA-18G Growler aircraft.

AARGM is currently deployed in multiple theaters with the USN and the US Marine Corps. The system achieved Initial Operational Capability in July 2012 and was awarded an initial full-rate production contract in August 2012.

The missile is deployed on US F/A-18C/D Hornet aircraft and is being integrated on the USN's EA-18G Growler and F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet aircraft, as well as the Italian Air Force's Tornado ECR aircraft. The missile is also compatible with the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.