U.S. Navy completes captive carry test of AARGM-ER missile aboard Super Hornet

The U.S. Navy completed an Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile – Extended Range (AARGM-ER) captive carry flight on an F/A-18 Super Hornet April 22 at Patuxent River in support of the first live fire event this spring.

This

flight marked the first time the AARGM-ER weapon demonstrated it could communicate with the F/A-18 E/F aircraft.  The Separation Test Vehicle (STV) used its hardware and software to facilitate the controlled free flight.

“Data collected from this testing will support expansion of flight testing with AARGM-ER to the full performance envelope of F/A-18 Super Hornet.  This flight represents a significant step in the AARGM-ER engineering and manufacturing development phase.”

Capt. Mitch Commerford, program manager for Direct and Time Sensitive Strike program office (PMA-242).

During the test, the F/A-18 Super Hornet conducted a series of aerial maneuvers in order to evaluate compatibility of the AARGM-ER with the F/A-18 Super Hornet.  The test points completed during this flight test event substantiated F/A-18 carriage compatibility.

AARGM-ER is being integrated on the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G, and will be compatible for integration of the F-35.  By leveraging the U.S. Navy’s AARGM program that’s in Full Rate Production, the AARGM-ER with a new rocket motor and warhead will provide advanced capability to detect and engage enemy air defense systems.

Source: navalnews.com

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