ATK
announced that it has been awarded a $54.4-million contract by the U.S.
Navy for a third lot of low-rate initial production (LRIP) Advanced
Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles (AARGM). The contract authorizes production
of AARGM missiles and associated support equipment for the U.S. Navy
and Italian Air Force.
AARGM is currently in the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E)
phase and has undergone more than 300 hours of missile flight testing
with the Navy in the last twelve months, including over 200 hours and
multiple live fires in the IOT&E phase. Upon IOT&E phase completion
in early 2012, the missile will achieve Initial Operational Capability
(IOC) with the FA-18C/D Hornet aircraft.
AARGM is also being integrated into the Navy's EA-18G Growler
electronic warfare and FA-18 E/F Super Hornet aircraft, as well as the
Italian Air Force Tornado ECR electronic combat and reconnaissance aircraft.
As a contributing sensor with advanced lethal defense suppression capability,
AARGM is expected to greatly enhance the electronic warfare capabilities
for the Growler and the Tornado ECR aircraft.
"The AARGM team continues to make significant progress in demonstrating
missile reliability, affordability, and overall performance," said
Bill Kasting, Vice President and General Manager of ATK Defense Electronics
Systems. "We are focused on ensuring continued success in operational
testing and production to deliver AARGM's game-changing capabilities
to our warfighters."
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ATK commenced low rate production for AARGM in 2008
and was awarded a second LRIP contract in 2010. This third LRIP contract
award will bring the total number of production missiles for the U.S.
Navy and Italian Air Force to 115.
AARGM is a supersonic, air-launched tactical missile carried on the
FA-18, EA-18G and Tornado ECR aircraft. The missile has designed compatibility
with the F-35, EA-6B, and U.S. and Allied F-16s. AARGM's advanced multi-sensor
system includes a Millimeter Wave (MMW) terminal seeker, advanced Anti-Radiation
Homing (ARH) receiver and Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation
System (GPS/INS) capable of rapidly engaging traditional and advanced
enemy air defense threats as well as non-radar time-sensitive strike
targets. The AARGM system, an upgrade to the U.S. Navy AGM-88 HARM system,
is a U.S. and Italian international cooperative major acquisition program
with the U.S. Navy as the executive agent. Upon IOC, AARGM will be the
only tactical extended-range, supersonic, multi-role strike weapon in
U.S. and Italian inventory.
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AARGM
Missile on a US Navy F18