Jane Edwards
The U.S. Navy has test-fired an Orbital ATK-built Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile against a moving ship at Point Mugu Sea Range in California.
Orbital ATK said Wednesday the service branch launched the AGM-88E AARGM system from an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet during the first Block 1 upgrade test held on Aug. 18.
The test sought to assess the aircraft systems, software and hardware as upgrades to AGM-88E AARGM and evaluate the weapon’s capability against mobile maritime targets, said Bill Kasting, vice president and general manager of defense electronic systems division at Orbital ATK.
“We look forward to rolling out these upgrades throughout the fleet upon the successful completion of follow-on operational testing,†Kasting added.
Orbital ATK carried out the live fire-test with the members of the service branch’s Integrated Product Team, including the Naval Air Systems Command, Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Three One and Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division – China Lake and Point Mugu.
AGM-88E AARGM is an air-launched, supersonic tactical missile that has a wave radar and anti-radiation sensor designed to detect and target sea-based mobile threats.
The missile is also part of the weapons platforms of several fighter planes such as the E/A-18G Growler, F/A-18C/D Hornet and FA-18E/F Super Hornet.
Orbital ATK said it expects the missile to reach initial operational capability onboard Italy’s Tornado ECR aircraft by 2017.
