Australia can buy up to 63 Northrop Grumman-built, long-range anti-radiation missiles worth up to $506 million, the U.S. government announced on Feb. 27.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) sent Congress a mandatory notification of the potential arms sales, saying the AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile—Extended Range (AARGM-ER) missiles will allow Australia’s tactical fighters the capability to suppress or destroy land- or sea-based emitters.
The proposed deal would also include 20 captive air training rounds and an unspecified number of dummy missiles.
The AGM-88G is scheduled to enter service later this year on Boeing F/A-18E/F and EA-18Gs and post-Lot 14 Lockheed Martin F-35s.
The AARGM-ER reuses the guidance and targeting system from the AGM-88E AARGM, then adds a new missile body, motor and warhead. The new missile body is wider and shorter than the baseline missile and removes the mid-body control strakes.
The approval for AARGM-ER comes eight months after DSCA notified Congress of an approved sale of 15 AGM-88E2 AARGMs to Australia.
