Northrop Grumman reaches AARGM-ER design milestone
Northrop Grumman has completed its Critical Design Review (CDR) of key components for the USN’s Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile-Extended Range (AARGM-ER) programme, the company confirmed on 18 June.
The most recent verification tests concerned the AARGM-ER rocket motor and warhead along with subsystem and system-level performance.
Gordon Turner, VP Advanced Weapons at Northrop Grumman, said: ‘Rocket motor design verification tests represented a significant knowledge point and milestone for engineering and manufacturing development… These tests were important to informing the CDR and verifying performance of the missile. With our government partners, we are aggressively focused on achieving ‘speed to fleet’ while holding to programme cost objectives.’
The AARGM-ER is to be integrated on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler fighter aircraft platforms with the possible future use on the F-35A/B/C.
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