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Northrop Grumman marked a significant milestone with the delivery of its 10,000th AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM).
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AARGM is a supersonic, air-launched tactical missile system, with the mission of destroying enemy air defences, ensuring freedom of manoeuvre. AARGM is a US Department of the Navy and Italian Air Force International Cooperative Program.
A ceremony at the Northrop Grumman production facility in Northridge, California, commemorated the occasion. Attendees at the event included US Navy senior officers, civilians, industry partners and past and present employees working on the program.
Captain Matthew Commerford, Navy Program Manager for Direct and Time Sensitive Strike (PMA-242), stated, "As our adversaries continue to evolve and advance their air defence systems, AARGM is essential for our warfighters to detect and defeat the various threats, and this achievement ensures the US Navy and our allies have the capability and capacity required to meet our operational needs."
AARGM is the most advanced weapons system deployed today delivering destruction of enemy air defence system capabilities.
AARGM provides the critical ability to detect and defeat surface-to-air-threats enabling the penetration of adversary anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) domains required by US warfighters and allies.
Gordon Turner, vice president, defence electronic systems, Northrop Grumman, said, "The 1,000th delivery showcases the progress made by our joint team since the program began as a Small Business Innovation Research program over a decade ago."
The AARGM program achieved initial operational capability in July 2012, and is currently deployed and supporting operational requirements for the US Navy, US Marine Corps, Italian Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force.
"It is also affirmation of a continued commitment and sustained investment to providing critical strike weapon capabilities and the industrial base capacity to meet future readiness demands," Turner added.
The missile is integrated into the weapons systems on the FA-18C/D Hornet, FA-18E/F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler aircraft and on the Tornado electronic combat and reconnaissance (ECR) aircraft.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, space, strike, and logistics and modernisation to customers worldwide.
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
