The RAAF has both the AGM-88 HARM and AARGM medium-range missiles in its inventory, but a new longer-range variant currently still in development by Northrop Grumman holds a lot of appeal for Australia.
The new missile is the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile - Extended Range (AARGM-ER), also known by the nomenclature AGM-88G.
In a media briefing conducted on 15 February, Captain Alex Dutko, Program Manager, Direct and Time-Sensitive Strike (PMA-242) of the US Navy, mentioned that ‘Australia has expressed interest, and we’re actively working with the government there to implement a case for AARGM-ER’.
Indeed, just a week earlier, the Australian government announced that it would be pursuing Project Air 5349 Phase 6 Advanced Growler, one strand of which is to improve anti-radiation missile war stocks, and to gain new longer-range and more advanced anti-radiation missiles. This description aligns with the characteristics of the AARGM-ER.
The AARGM-ER is launched from an aircraft to rapidly suppress and destroy enemy air defences. Compared to its predecessor the AARGM, the new missile has a longer range and faster speed. However, neither the US Navy nor Northrop Grumman would provide any details as to range and speed.
Another key feature of the AARGM-ER is that it is designed for carriage in the internal weapon bay of F-35A and F-35C fighters, though the F-35B can only carry it externally. The missile was shortened slightly to 4.06m long to fit inside the F-35A/C, though it is heavier and has a wider diameter than the AARGM.
It also fits on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler. Considering that the RAAF operates F-35As, F/A-18Fs and EA-18Gs, the AARGM-ER seems a suitable accompaniment.
Four development tests have been conducted over water for the AARGM-ER, and Dutko said overland tests will occur over the coming few months. All testing will be completed before FY2024, leading to an initial operating capability on the F/A-18 in Q1 of FY2024.
Foreign Military Sales will thus be possible from low-rate initial production Lot 4 onwards, and deliveries to foreign customers like Australia could occur from FY2026. Canberra is very concerned about the strategic threat posed by a belligerent China, a country that fields a plethora of different surface-to-air missile systems, so enhanced weapons like the AARGM-ER hold a lot of appeal.
On 12 October 2022, the US DoD announced a USD35.59 million sale of AGM-88E2 missiles, captive air training missiles, guidance and control sections for the AARGM, plus HARM missiles to Australia. The missiles will come from full-rate production Lot 11, and the work is to be completed by March 2025.
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