US Navy awards $171mn anti-radiation, guided-missile contract: Northrop Grumman

The United States Navy has awarded a 171 million US dollar contract for full-rate production of the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM), defense contractor Northrop Grumman announced in a press release on Tuesday.

"The contract will deliver advanced capability to US warfighters as well as the Italian Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force to counter the accelerating proliferation of surface-to-air threats," the release said.

AARGM is a supersonic, air-launched tactical missile system that homes in on electromagnetic radiation emitted by ground-based enemy anti-aircraft systems, the release noted.

The 171 million US dollar deal is the seventh full-rate production lot for the advanced weapon, the release said.

The missile was developed by Northrop Grumman and an Italian partner, and the weapon is currently integrated into systems on the FA-18C/D Hornet, FA-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft, according to the release.