The US Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman the contract to proceed with low-rate initial production (LRIP) for the AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile Extended Range (AARGM-ER).

As the AARGM-ER prime contractor Northrop Grumman has worked with the US Navy and industry to develop a production missile design, achieving Milestone C in 28 months following engineering and manufacturing development contract award. A Milestone C award marks the end of the engineering and development phase, moving the programme into production and deployment.

“[The] LRIP marks a significant step forward for AARGM-ER and the confidence the US Navy has in the programme and its capabilities,” Capt Alex Dutko, navy program manager for Direct Time Sensitive Strike (PMA-242), said in a September 30 release from Northrop Grumman.

It was earlier reported on September 2 AARGM-ER had achieved a Milestone C decision ahead of the contract award, authorising the LRIP. In addition, on August 2 the US Navy announced that it had completed the first live fire of the AARGM-ER from an F/A-18 Super Hornet off the coast of California the previous month.

The AARGM-ER is being integrated on the Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler platforms, as well as the US Air Force F-35A, US Marine Corps F-35B, and US Navy F-35C aircraft.