Orbital ATK participated in the missile firing as
a member of the U.S. Navy's Integrated Product Team, led by the Direct
and Time Sensitive Strike Program Office, PMA-242.
Additional test team members included Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons
Division – China Lake, Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Three
One, and Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Nine.
AARGM is a supersonic, air-launched tactical missile system, upgrading
legacy AGM-88 HARM systems with advanced capability to perform Destruction
of Enemy Air Defense and time sensitive strike missions. AARGM provides
the most advanced system for pilots with in-cockpit, real-time electronic
order of battle situational awareness against today’s modern
surface-to-air threats. AARGM is able to rapidly engage advanced land-
and sea-based radar air-defense threats, as well as non-radar, time-sensitive
strike targets.
AARGM is a U.S. Navy and Italian Air Force international cooperative
major acquisition program with the U.S. Navy as the executive service.
AARGM achieved Initial Operational Capability in July 2012 and was
approved by the Navy for Full Rate Production in September 2012. AARGM
is currently deployed with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps on
the F/A-18C/D Hornet, FA-18E/F Super Hornet and E/A-18G Growler aircraft,
and is being integrated for use on the Italian Air Force's Tornado
ECR aircraft.