Supersonic missile production contract awarded to Northrop Grumman
NewsJuly 31, 2019
FALLS CHURCH, Va. Northrop Grumman's Alliant Techsystems has been awarded a $167 million contract for conversion of AGM-88B High Speed Anti-Radiation missiles into upgraded AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles (AARGM) for the U.S. Navy.
The contract covers 263 full-rate production AARGMs, with 260 being converted to the newer version and three produced as captive air-training missiles. The deal includes supplies and services for manufacture, spares, and fleet deployment of the missiles, according to the Pentagon.
The AARGM, a joint venture between the Navy and Italian air force, is a supersonic, medium-range, air-launched tactical missile made for engaging enemy air defenses, and time-critical, mobile targets.
The missile is an upgraded version of the AGM-88 HARM and can be launched from the F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, F-16, F-35, and the Italian air force's Tornado, according to Northrop Grumman. It has been deployed by the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines, Italian air force and other allied nations.
