Software Upgrade to Provide Higher Performance Capabilities

Orbital ATK in conjunction with the US Navy, is rolling out the Block 1 software upgrade to the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM). Earlier this year, both completed testing, demonstrating the effectiveness of the software upgrade.

“Fielding Block 1 software provides U.S. and allied forces with higher performance against air defense systems,” Cary Ralston, Vice President and General Manager of Orbital ATK’s Defense Electronic Systems Division of the Defense Systems Group, said. “Our ultimate goal is to protect warfighters and AARGM allows them to quickly, safely and accurately locate and destroy targets, whether on land or on sea, while remaining out of harm’s way.”

AARGM is a US Navy and Italian Air Force international cooperative major acquisition programme with the US Navy as the executive agent. AARGM is currently deployed and supporting operational requirements for the US Navy and US Marine Corps. The missile is integrated into the weapons systems on the FA-18C/D HORNET, FA-18E/F Super HORNETand EA-18G GROWLER vaircraft. AARGM is anticipated to achieve Initial Operational Capability on the Italian Air Force’s TORNADO ECR aircraft in 2018.