US Navy completes second live-fire test with AARGM-ER

An AARGM-ER air-to-surface missile is launched from a US Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet in the second live-fire test of the weapon system at the US Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, Point Mugu Sea Range, southern California, on 21 January. (US Navy)

The US Navy conducted a second live-fire development test (DT2) of the Northrop Grumman AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile – Extended Range (AARGM-ER) from an F/A-18F Super Hornet at the US Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD), Point Mugu Sea Range, southern California, on 21 January.

Following release, the AARGM-ER performed an extended-range profile, engaging a land-based emitter target positioned at the NAWCWD range on San Nicolas Island, approximately 105 km (56 nm) south of Point Mugu.

“This second flight test verified AARGM-ER's ability to detect, identify, locate, and engage a land-based air-defence radar system from an extended range,” said US Navy (USN) Captain A C Dutko, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) program manager for Direct and Time Sensitive Strike (PMA-242). The range/altitude of the release to target was not disclosed.