U.S Navy Completes F/A-18 AARGM-ER Flight with Separation Test Vehicle

The U.S. Navy completed an AARGM-ER captive carry flight on an F/A-18 Super Hornet on April 22 at Patuxent River in support of the first live fire event this spring.

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 Captain 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.