All variants of US F-35s to be armed with AGM-88G anti-radiation missiles to blind air defense radars.

In a report by Johnny Franks for Warrior Maven, it has been revealed that the U.S. is in the process of integrating Northrop Grumman's AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile into its F-35 aircraft. This integration project, supported by a Pentagon contract exceeding $97 million, signifies a significant advancement in air defense suppression capabilities for the F-35.
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AGM-88G anti-radiation missile in the internal weapon bay of an F-35 (Picture source: ATK orbitale / Northrop Grumman)

The AGM-88G, an advanced anti-radiation missile designed to target electronic emissions from surface-to-air radar systems, is set to become a standard component across all variants of the F-35. Originally developed by Texas Instruments to replace the AGM-45 Shrike and AGM-78 Standard ARM system, production responsibilities later shifted to Raytheon Corporation after it acquired Texas Instruments' defense production business.

This missile system boasts the ability to autonomously detect, engage, and destroy radar antennas or transmitters with minimal input from aircrew. Equipped with a fixed antenna and seeker head in its nose, the missile utilizes a smokeless, solid-propellant, booster-sustainer rocket motor to achieve speeds exceeding Mach 2. The introduction of the HTS pod, exclusively used by the USAF, enables F-16s to detect and target radar systems automatically using HARMs, reducing reliance on the missile's sensors alone.

The AGM-88G offers a crucial advantage with its seamless integration into the F-35's internal weapon bays, preserving the aircraft's stealth capabilities. This integration goes beyond the U.S. military, encompassing foreign military sales to countries such as Australia, Canada, the UK, Norway, Italy, the Netherlands, and Denmark.

Johnny Franks, in his report, explains that the AGM-88G is equipped with an advanced electromagnetic spectrum analyzer. This technology enables the missile to meticulously scan and identify enemy air defense radars by analyzing their unique electromagnetic emissions. Employing intricate signal processing algorithms, the missile dynamically adjusts its flight path for precise targeting of the emissions source with exceptional accuracy. Furthermore, it boasts a high-speed data link, enabling real-time communication with external sensors and command centers for up-to-the-minute target information and adaptive trajectory changes. Once locked onto its target, the missile deploys its carefully engineered warhead, effectively disrupting enemy air defenses. This fusion of advanced sensors, real-time connectivity, and pinpoint accuracy underscores the AGM-88G’s pivotal role in enhancing the F-35's capabilities and maintaining U.S. military dominance in an ever-evolving global defense landscape.