ATK announces US Navy contract award

ATK has announced that it has been awarded a $54.4-million contract by the US Navy for a third lot of low-rate initial production (LRIP) Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles (AARGM).

The contract, announced 31 October 2011, authorizes production of AARGM missiles and associated support equipment for the US Navy and Italian Air Force.

According to ATK, the AARGM supersonic, air-launched tactical missile carried on the FA-18, EA-18G and Tornado ECR aircraft, is currently in the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) phase and has undergone more than 300 hours of missile flight testing with the Navy in the last twelve months, including over 200 hours and multiple live fires in the IOT&E phase. Upon IOT&E phase completion in early 2012, the missile will achieve Initial Operational Capability (IOC) with the FA-18C/D Hornet aircraft.

AARGM is also being integrated into the Navy's EA-18G Growler electronic warfare and FA-18 E/F Super Hornet aircraft, as well as the Italian Air Force Tornado ECR electronic combat and reconnaissance aircraft.  As a contributing sensor with advanced lethal defense suppression capability, ‘AARGM is expected to greatly enhance the electronic warfare capabilities for the Growler and the Tornado ECR aircraft’, an ATK company statement said. 

ATK commenced low rate production for AARGM in 2008 and was awarded a second LRIP contract in 2010. This third LRIP contract award will bring the total number of production missiles for the US Navy and Italian Air Force to 115.