Australia Purchases U.S. Missile Training Capabilities

The U.S. Navy recently signed an agreement with the Australian Government to provide its High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) and Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) training capability as part of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) acquisition of the EA-18G Growler.

The Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement with Australia for an AARGM training capability marks the first FMS sale involving the weapon. The AARGM is the U.S. Navy’s medium-range air-to-ground missile for suppression and destruction of enemy air defenses.

“The RAAF’s procurement of an AARGM training capability is another step in the direction of achieving commonality between RAAF and U.S. Navy aircraft, mission planning and maintenance capabilities in order to maximize interoperability in a coalition environment,” said Capt. Brian Corey, Direct and Time Sensitive Strike Program Manager.

AARGM addresses current capability gaps in areas where the U.S. Navy deploys and operates its existing Air-to-Ground Missile, the High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile. Specifically, AARGM defeats multiple countermeasures that have been developed by U.S. adversaries since HARM was deployed in the 1980s.

The weapon will be carried on the U.S. F/A-18C/D, F/A-18E/F, EA-18G and Italian Air Force Tornado Electronic Countermeasures/Reconnaissance (ECR) aircraft. Currently, Navy and Marine Corps F/A-18 squadrons are operating with AARGM.

The RAAF plans to add the HARM and AARGM training capability to their EA-18G aircraft. The Navy and industry partner Alliant Tech Systems (ATK) plan to deliver the capability to Australians in 2015 to support EA-18G flight testing. Australia announced the decision to acquire 12 EA-18G Growler aircraft in 2012.