Sun, Jun 19, 2011
Integrated Flight Tests Move AARGM Closer To Operational
Status
In May, the U.S. Navy completed an initial flight integration
test with its new Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) on
the EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft, and has just
recently completed multiple flight hours of integration testing on
FA-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft. This series of successful
captive-carry tests is part of the process to validate the
compatibility of AARGM with these platforms. With continued
successful flight performance, AARGM is expected to complete the
Navy's Operational Test Readiness Review and transition into
initial operational test and evaluation later this year.
EA-18G Growlers
"The AARGM team continues to make great progress in
demonstrating missile reliability, affordability and overall
performance," said Bill Kasting, Vice President and General Manager
of ATK Defense Electronics Systems, which makes the missile. "We
look forward to operational testing and ultimately delivering this
game-changing capability to the warfighter."
"AARGM's defense suppression capability combined with the EA-18G
Growler's electronic warfare system creates a formidable advantage
in joint and allied operations, and is another major step completed
toward delivering AARGM capability to the Fleet," said Capt. Brian
Corey, PMA 242 Program Manager for Direct & Time Sensitive
Strike Weapons. "AARGM is designed to dramatically increase the
effectiveness of U.S. Navy and Italian Air Force capability to
suppress and destroy enemy air defense threats. AARGM's
multi-spectral seeker and advanced control section can detect,
locate, guide to, and engage both fixed and mobile enemy air
defense units."
The integration flights supported development testing of new
aircraft software for the FA-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft, and were
conducted in parallel with the ongoing AARGM Integrated Test &
Evaluation (IT&E) phase on the FA-18 C/D aircraft.
FA-18 Super Hornet
AARGM's precision capabilities allow for the destruction of
modern enemy air defense systems, time-critical targets, and other
mobile targets. AARGM's unique combat capability significantly
increases the probability of successful engagements, minimizes the
chance of collateral damage and eliminates the need to fly
continuous suppression sorties throughout the duration of a
conflict.
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