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| The US's Newest Generation AGM-88G Anti-Radiation Missile Has Supersonic Speed and Longer Firepower |
International Military - The United States Navy (US Navy) successfully conducted 5 test firings of the latest generation of AGM-88G anti-radiation missiles. The AGM-88G anti-radiation missile is named Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile Extended Range (AARGM-ER) with supersonic speed and farther firepower.
The additional sentence Extended Range shows that this latest generation of missiles has a range of firepower that is twice as far as the previous generation (AGM-88E AARGM and AGM-88F HCSM).
The previous two anti-radiation missiles were capable of striking targets 60 miles or 97 km away, meaning the AGM-88G AARGM-ER has doubled its range. Northrop Grumman has completed its fifth consecutive successful test of the AGM-88G AARGM-ER anti-radiation missile.
The US Navy is the first to simulate targets against modern air defense systems located inland.
This missile successfully detects, identifies, locates and engages sophisticated ground-based transmitter targets. This capability is thanks to special equipment that is able to lock the radar's electronic transmission from the surface. On hitting the target, the explosion/fragmentation warhead obliterates the target.
“This missile (AARGM-ER) provides the Navy with the best capabilities against adversary threats. This direct hit successfully demonstrated the missile's extended range, readiness and effectiveness,” said Gordon Turner, Vice President Advanced Weapons, Northrop Grumman.
The AGM-88G AARGM-ER anti-radiation missile can reach a supersonic speed of Mach 1.8 or around 2,280 km per hour. This speed is thanks to the new ramjet rocket propulsion system used, so that this missile can be fired far beyond the range of enemy air defense systems.
“This missile exhibits a high-velocity lethal effect against air defense system targets. This is a successful move for our industry team to provide this much needed capability to our pilots,” said Capt. Alex Dutko, US Navy Program Manager.
The missile can be fired from Navy-operated F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growlers fighter aircraft. Including, all variants of the F-35 fighter currently operated by the US military. The AGM-88 anti-radiation missile was first developed by Texas Instruments in 1988. This supersonic missile has been used since the Gulf War to the Russian-Ukrainian war.