An AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) was successfully fired at NAWS China Lake last month, marking the fifth consecutive successful AARGM live fire in the program's SD&D phase and continues AARGM's progression toward Independent Operational Test and Evaluation commencing mid-2009.
AARGM was a Small Business Innovative Resea ch (SBIR) program, awarded to Science and Applied Technology Inc. (SAT), to design and demonstrate an innovative systems upgrade to the AGM-88 High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM).
As a result of their SBIR success, SAT was acquired by Alliant Techsystems in October 2002.
ATK began work on the AARGM program SD&D contract in June 2003 and the program remains on schedule to enter service with the US Navy and Marine Corps in 2010.
And can we expect the RAAF later, since the benefits of the spiral program should transfer?
And speaking of arming the Super Hornets, under AIR 5349 Phase 2, Defence has established FMS cases for the acquisition of AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles, AGM-154 Joint Stand Off Weapons, Infrared flares and is also seeking to acquire additional AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missiles.