US Navy completes first AARGM-ER live fire test milestone

The US Navy (USN), in association with Northrop Grumman, conducted the first live fire test of an AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile – Extended Range (AARGM-ER) over the sea test range at Naval Air Station Point Mugu in southern California on 19 July.

Launched from from an F/A-18F Super Hornet multirole combat aircraft, the Flight Test Vehicle (FTV) event was conducted using a telemetry round, without a warhead. The USN said the live fire test successfully demonstrated the long-range capability of the missile's new design, although the altitude and range of the shot was not disclosed.

“The AARGM-ER was successfully launched from the F/A-18 aircraft and performed as expected, meeting all test objectives,” said USN Captain Alex Dutko, Navy Program Manager for Direct Time Sensitive Strike (PMA-242). “The government and industry team had great focus and was able to conduct this test event three months earlier than originally envisioned,” he added.

“The AARGM-ER live fire test objectives included validation of overall system integration, performance of the rocket motor, and validation of missile modelling and simulation,” a Northrop Grumman spokesperson told Janes. “This was the first in a series of planned AARGM-ER flight tests that will demonstrate and verify the advanced functionalities and performance of AARGM-ER. Captive and live fire developmental flight testing is planned to continue ... into 2022,” the spokesperson added. The navy will utilise Naval Air Warfare Center Atlantic Test Ranges in Patuxent River, Naval Air Station Point Mugu Sea Range, and Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake for various aspects of the test campaign.

The USNconducted the first live fire test of an AARGM-ER from an F/A-18E/F Super Hornet over the sea test range at Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California, on 19 July. (US Navy)

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