The missile was launched off-axis and at low altitude from the wing of an F/A-18C Hornet. The operationally realistic launch profile posed a significant challenge to the missile as its sensor did not have direct line-of-sight to the target. After launch, the missile successfully detected, identified, located, and guided to a representative enemy air defense radar installation, scoring a direct hit.

"We are very pleased that we were able to continue AARGM's history of test firing successes," said Jack Cronin, President, ATK Mission Systems. "We look forward to transitioning the AARGM development program into LRIP later this year in support of U.S. and allied forces."

ATK conducted the test in partnership with the U.S. Navy's Integrated Test Team, led by the Direct and Time Sensitive Strike Program Office (PMA-242). The team also includes members from the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division -- China Lake, the Naval Air Systems Command -- Patuxent River, and the Italian Air Force.

The test firing is a culmination of a successful series of laboratory integration and captive flights. It demonstrated the maturity of the AARGM integration with the F/A-18 aircraft and the continued progress of fielding a long-range, precision strike capability against a wide array of time critical targets.

The missile utilized GPS/INS navigation with enroute transition to anti-radiation homing (ARH) guidance on the air defense radar target. The test demonstrated how AARGM's digital ARH receiver can detect, identify, track, geographically locate, and guide to lethal range on the target.

"The entire international AARGM team is pleased with today's test result," said Capt. Larry Egbert, the Department of Defense program manager Direct and Time Sensitive Strike programs.

"I continue to be exceptionally proud of the achievements of our international, government-industry team. The successful test has shown the lethality against a real-world threat and demonstrates the viability of an affordable Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses (DEAD) capability for U.S., Italian and potentially other Allied Forces through the upgrade of legacy HARM weapons."

This development test was part of the AARGM System Development and Demonstration phase and continues the tradition of success established with the Quick Bolt Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration. With this recent firing, AARGM has achieved nine successful live fires and numerous captive carry flights against a wide array of targets. When fielded in FY10, it will be the only extended range tactical supersonic multi-role strike weapon in U.S. and Italian inventory.

AARGM is a supersonic, air-launched tactical missile that will be integrated on the F/A-18 C/D, F/A-18 E/F, EA-18G and Tornado IDS/ECR aircraft. The missile is also being designed to be compatible with the F-35, EA-6B and U.S. and Allied F-16 aircraft.

Its advanced multi-sensor system, including a Millimeter Wave (MMW) terminal seeker, advanced digital Anti-Radiation Homing (ARH) receiver and a GPS/INS, is capable of rapidly engaging traditional and advanced enemy air defense targets as well as non-radar time-sensitive strike targets. The AARGM MMW seeker can operate in concert with the ARH to counter RF shutdown tactics, or in a stand-alone mode to guide to non-emitting time sensitive targets.

AARGM is a network-enabled weapon that directly receives tactical intelligence information via an embedded data link and transmits real-time Weapon Impact Assessment (WIA) reports. AARGM, the successor to the U.S. Navy AGM-88 HARM system, is a U.S. and Italian international cooperative major acquisition program with the U.S. Navy as the executive agent.

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