Anti-radiation Missile Improvement

The Air-to-Ground (AGM)-88G AARGM-ER Upgrade was a new start in FY 2016. The purpose of this effort is to develop hardware and software modifications to improve the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM)'s operational capabilities, including extended range, survivability and effectiveness against complex, new, and emerging threats. This budget line item funds a new rocket motor design, system development and integration, test asset procurement, testing, correction of deficiencies, and associated software updates for the AARGM-ER to ensure these capabilities perform in accordance with established requirements. AARGM-ER retains the same guidance and sensor capabilities of the AARGM. The AARGM-ER program is part of the Navy's approach to address advanced threat capabilities in the Anti-Access/Area-Denial (A2/AD) environment. Solutions enable individual system capabilities to be leveraged across an effects chain, placing the full spectrum of tactical capability in the hands of the warfighter. Solutions that push engagement distances beyond the launch platform's radar horizon and allows the U.S. Navy to operate in, and control, contested battle space in littoral waters and A2/AD environments are increasingly critical as more scenarios require compressed and coordinated fire control timelines.

Anti-Radiation Missile (ARM) Improvement is a combination of the Navy-led High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) program, the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guide Missile (AARGM) program and the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile Extended Range (AARGM-ER). HARM is a Navy led joint service program with the United States Air Force. AARGM is a program derived from a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program that developed a dual mode guidance section, incorporating Millimeter Wave (MMW) radar with an advanced anti-radiation homing seeker. Additional AARGM capabilities include Global Positioning System (GPS) enabled point-to-point weapon engagement and missile impact avoidance/missile impact zones, MMW terminal guidance, and a Weapon Impact Assessment (WIA) transmitter to provide Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) cueing. AARGM-ER is a derivative of the AARGM program that repackages the seeker electronics and all of weapon engagement capabilities from AARGM into a new missile shape with a new rocket motor to achieve greater speed, range and survivability. AGM-88 ARM weapon systems require periodic updates to the user database to remain relevant based on changing threat parameters, enhanced air defense engagement tactics and modern complex emerging systems. These funds provide the means to conduct ground and flight testing against actual and surrogate threat systems. Procurement deliverables include anechoic chamber and open-air range test equipment, test missile assets, as well as surrogate threat system radar shapes and surrogate complex emitter systems. Foreign Material Assessment (FMA) evaluates AGM-88 ARM performance against threat systems to develop alternative Concept of Operations (CONOPs) against emerging threat capabilities. FMA testing also includes assessment of special project efforts to support advanced kill-chain capability development against threat systems. FMA deliverables include, but not limited to, analytical reports on findings, critical updates to fleet tactics manuals, curriculum changes to the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses / Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses lead Air Combat Training Curriculum course work and weapon school tactics/training and procedure briefs.

Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) transitioned a Phase III Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to develop and demonstrate a multi-mode guidance section on a High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) airframe to System Development and Demonstration (SD&D) in FY 2003. The AARGM SD&D program was designed to integrate multi-mode guidance (passive Anti-Radiation Homing (ARH)/active Millimeter Wave (MMW) Radar/Global Positioning System (GPS)/Inertial Navigation System) on the HARM Air-to-Ground Missile (AGM)-88. Planned AARGM weapon system capabilities include: active MMW terminal guidance to counter shutdown, expanded threat coverage, enhanced ARH, Weapon Impact Assessment (WIA) transmitted prior to detonation, GPS/point-to-point weapon navigation, enhanced navigational performance in denied environments and weapon employment with impact avoidance zone/missile impact zones. Milestone C was achieved 4Q FY 2008, followed by a combined FY 2008/FY 2009 Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract award in 1Q FY 2009. Full-Rate Production (FRP) decision was received 4Q FY 2012, with FRP deliveries beginning in 2Q FY 2014. The AARGM Block 1 Upgrade program began in FY 2012 for a software only upgrade with follow-on Operational Test and Evaluation/Integrated Test (FOT&E/IT) of the Block 1 Upgrade completed Q4 FY 2017. FY 2027 funding continues to support AARGM ELINT file upgrades, lab ground and flight tests, continuation of AARGM integration into the new mission planning tool, and technology infusion for obsolescence mitigations.