Defence will spend up to $650 million on procuring additional Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile-Extended Range (AARGM-ER) missiles through the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process. To date, Australia has been approved to buy more than 160 of the missiles.
"These world class missiles will improve the range, survivability and effectiveness of our Air Force to find and destroy enemy radars," said the Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, Pat Conroy.
Sale of the first tranche of 63 was approved by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) in February 2023. The sale was then confirmed in August 2023, with Defence allocating $431 million to buy the missiles. That deal was followed by the DSCA approving a possible sale of up to 100 AARGM-ERs for $649 million in September 2024.
"Australia and the United States continue to work as closely as ever, the Alliance between our two countries ensures Australians are kept safe and our national interests are defended," said the Minister for Defence, Richard Marles.
The missiles will be deployed from Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft and, in the future, on Australia’s F-35A Lightning II aircraft.