Monday 10 May 2021

Navy Completes F/A-18, AARGM-ER Flight with Separation Test Vehicle

CDKN Kenny



Posted on May 7, 2021 
by Seapower Staff

An F/A-18 flies with an Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile – Extended Range (AARGM-ER) during a captive carry flight test at Patuxent River Air Station in Maryland. The Navy is integrating AARGM-ER on the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G, and will be compatible for integration of the F-35. U.S. NAVY

PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — 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, the Naval Air Systems Command said in a May 7 release. 

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,” said Capt. Mitch Commerford, program manager for Direct and Time Sensitive Strike program office (PMA-242). “This flight represents a significant step in the AARGM-ER engineering and manufacturing development phase.” 

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. 


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