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In Spanien wird heute eine Abstimmung über ein Misstrauensvotum erwartet, das die Regierung des konservativen Mariano Rajoy zu Fall bringen könnte.

EU court's handling of dispute between Ireland and Poland could make or break EU efforts to uphold rule of law.

Water and agriculture are both essential for life. European agricultural policy must protect our valuable drinking water resources.

From the summer palace of Serbia’s vanished Obrenovic dynasty to a German hospital and a post-World War II ‘forbidden zone,’ this beautiful mansion offers a glimpse into a court life as it once was.

Planned amendments to the law granting citizenship to wealthy foreign investors have split the country's parliament – with some claiming it will only worsen Moldova's reputation for corruption. 

The proposed revival of the Belene nuclear power plant project, with Russian involvement, shows again how Moscow is seeking to capture strategic sectors of Bulgaria’s economy and use them as political tools.

This week, gaffe-prone Gunther rides again, golden passports are met with disdain and Malian hero earns widespread acclaim.

Macedonia is to lift the nocturnal curfew on selling alcoholic beverages in stores, which the government says failed to prevent youth drinking but hurt the local wine-producing industry.

After the Kosovo Prime Minister said they might have to take a big pay cut to save the company, workers at the embattled Kosovo Telecom firm have warned of strikes and protests.

Erneute Wendung im Krimi um die Regierungsbildung in Italien. Die Technokratenregierung kommt doch nicht. Fünf-Sterne und Lega sollen noch heute das Zepter übernehmen.

Denmark on Thursday (31 May) became the latest European country to ban the Islamic full-face veil in public spaces in a move slammed by human rights campaigners as "a violation of women's rights".

Poland, and the ruling PiS party in particular, attaches great importance to history. It is therefore no wonder that it continues to change its history and the names of those who made it, with the help of the state-controlled media. EURACTIV's media partner Gazeta Wyborcza reports.

Apanews - Le porte parole du gouvernement mauritanien, Mohamed Lemine Ould Cheikh, a démenti jeudi l’existence d’un centre chiite à Nouakchott...

The EU's new regional policy is a “balanced, simpler and ambitious” proposal, the best that could have ever been achieved under the current conditions, Commissioner Corina Crețu told Members of the European Parliament on Thursday (May 31).

As the European Commission pushes forward with digitalisation policies, its DESI-index is meant to measure how digital individual member states already are. Germany, however, is only in the midfield. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Anti-establishment and nationalist parties in Italy reached a new coalition deal on Thursday (31 may) reviving their plans to take power, narrowly avoiding snap elections and setting in motion an anti-austerity government in the eurozone’s third largest economy. On Thursday...

Rimtoday - Effondrement du toit de l'école Teyarett II à Nouakchott Ouest sur des élèves.Le toit de l’une des classes de l’Ecole II dans la...

Americas

• The Navy is tapping Orbital ATK Inc. to upgrade its inventory of guided missiles. The awarded contract modification is valued at $171 million and provides for the procurement of full-rate production for the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) in support of the Navy and the government of Australia. Under the contract Orbital ATK will convert 271 provided AGM-88B High Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles into 253 Navy AGM-88E AARGM all-up-rounds (AURs). The AGM-88E AARGM is a medium range, supersonic, air-launched tactical missile compatible with U.S. and allied strike aircraft, including all variants of the F/A-18, Tornado, EA-18G, F-16, EA-6B, and F-35. Its primary job is to attack and kill enemy radars. AARGM’s production phase may total up to $1.4 billion for 2,121 missiles, to equip the US Navy, US Marine Corps and partnering nations. The contract also includes an option to exercise related services necessary for AARGM manufacture and deployment. Work will be performed in Northridge and Ridgecrest, California and is expected to be completed in March 2020.

• Lockheed Martin is being awarded a cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order. Valued at $46.6 million the delivery order provides for non-recurring engineering, the development of design documentation, and the creation of modification instructions. These efforts will support service life extension and enable the developmental test F-35 aircraft to maintain currency with delivered technology. The F-35 Joint Strike fighter can be considered as the largest single global defense program in history. Testing and re-testing is an incremental part of this project. Due to the jets high procurement cost, Lockheed Martin is trying to develop systems that extend the F-35s life while keeping the associated costs to a minimum. This delivery order combines purchases for the Navy $12.37 million; Marine Corps $12,37 million; and non-US DoD participants $7,89 million. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas and is expected to be completed in June 2019.

• The Air Force is procuring new parts for its fleet of C-130J aircraft. The $29.5 million contract provides for the R391 propellers and spares currently used on the transport plane. GE Aviation, doing business as Dowty Propellers Inc. will work in conjunction with the commercial Rolls Royce AE 2100D3 engine managed by the Warner Robins, Air Logistics Center. The C-130 Hercules remains one of the longest-running aerospace manufacturing programs of all time. The C-130J looks a lot like its predecessors but has seen some major changes. Its improvements are mostly clustered around 2 key characteristics: performance, and operational costs. It uses lighter Rolls-Royce AE2100D3 engines, coupled with a 6-blade Dowty R-391 propeller system made of composite materials. The overall system generates 29% more thrust, while increasing fuel efficiency by 15% and offering improved reliability and maintenance. Work will be performed in Sterling, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by May 2023.

Middle East & Africa

• Jane’s reports that, Epsilor, an Israeli battery and charger manufacturer is set to provide the Canadian Armed Forces with a battery charging solution. The $3 million contract sees for the development and delivery of 400 multi-channel chargers, spares, and services in support of Canada’s Integrated Soldier System (ISS) program. The Canadian ISS program is essentially a suite of military equipment that soldiers wear as part of their combat load. It includes weapon accessories and electronics that allow soldiers to stay connected with their teams after exiting vehicles on the battlefield. It also features a radio, a smartphone-like computer to run battle management software, a GPS, and a communications headset. The ISS combines those devices into an ensemble of system that greatly improves the situational awareness of the individual soldier. All of those systems require battery supplies for lengthy field operations.

Europe

• Sweden is set to close a deal with Raytheon in the next few weeks that sees for the procurement of the Patriot air defense missile system. The deal is initially worth around $1.13 billion and is the biggest military purchase since 2013 when Sweden started to upgrade 60 Saab Gripen fighters. The decision comes at time of heightened tensions between Western Europe and Russia. Moscow’s brief war with Georgia in 2008 and its annexation of the Crimea Peninsula six years later has pushed Sweden, not a NATO member but with close ties to the alliance, to rebuild its armed forces after decades of neglect. Sweden’s current air defense system, which is over a decade old, cannot shoot down ballistic missiles. The current US standard for new-build Patriot Missiles is the Patriot Advanced Capability 3. Its enhanced capabilities also allow it to be used for point defense against ballistic missiles, and its Config-3 ground systems also feature a range of improvements to the battery’s radar, communications, electronics, and software. The contract also includes an option to expand the purchase to up to 300 missiles. If the option is used, the final bill will be around $3 billion, Lewin said. If the government makes its final decision by August 10th, delivery of the first units could start in 2021.

• The German Army has taken delivery of its first Leopard 2A6MA2 main battle tank. The tank has been delivered to Armor Battalion 414, which is a joint German-Dutch tank company stationed in Lohnheide, Germany. The Leopard 2A6 is a German-made main battle tank designed and manufactured by the Company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann. It’s the successor of the main battle tank Leopard 1. The upgraded tank is a major step in the integration of the unit, with the tank’s Dutch Essential Land based Information Application & Services battlefield management system providing technical interoperability between the two forces. The tanks now also have the Blue Force Tracking System with which they can distinguish their own troops. This considerably reduces the risk of fire on their own troops. The Leopard’s will immediately participate in the German-Dutch contribution to the NATO flash force in 2019, a response to threats to NATO territory. The company will receive 16 tanks in total. Delivery is scheduled by the end of June.

Asia-Pacific

• Kazakhstan is acquiring four more combat helicopters to boost its strike capabilities. After all of its Mi-24s have been withdrawn from service, Kazakhstan Air Defense Forces are quickly moving to address the gap in rotary-wing combat capability. To fill this gap the country has signed a deal with Russia that provides for the delivery of four Mil Mi-35M helicopters. The multirole Mi-35M attack helicopter is a comprehensive modernization of the Mi-24V and was developed by the Mil Moscow Helicopter plant and has been series produced at Rostvertol since 2005. The main role of this helicopter is destruction of armored vehicles, enemy troops, UAVs and other helicopters. Its secondary role is delivery of troops and special cargo, evacuation of wounded. It can operate at night and in adverse weather conditions. This attack helicopter can carry different weapons, including podded guns, 8 Ataka-V or Shturm-V ant-tank missiles and Igla-V air-to-air missiles, unguided rockets or bombs. The country already took delivery of the first four Mi-35s late 2016, with another four scheduled for arrival by the end of 2018 as part of a contract signed with Russian Helicopters in 2017.

Today’s Video

• Four F-22s touch down in Okinawa

AARGM Concept
(click to view full)

The AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) is a medium range, supersonic, air-launched tactical missile whose primary job is to attack and kill enemy radars. AARGM is a US Navy major acquisition program, with around 1,750 expected orders from the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. The Italian Air Force is expected to buy up to 250 of these successors to the AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile, and Germany may also join.

So, why is AARGM a big deal? Perhaps the story of how a Serbian unit using an antiquated SA-3 battery managed to survive the 1999 NATO air campaign – and shoot down an F-117 Nighthawk stealth plane – will help put things into perspective. DID recounts those events, explains the new weapon, and offers updates on contracts and key milestones.

Why AARGM? Rationale & Capabilities

Showdown Over Serbia: Demise of an F-117

SA-3 Goa/ Neva
(click to view full)

eDefense Online tells the story of Col. Dani Zoltan. In 1999, he was a Serbian commander of the 3rd battery of the 250th Missile Brigade near Beograd, when NATO intervened in the Kosovo War. The Serbs were equipped with 1960s era SA-3 SAMs:

“In addition to technical modifications to increase the probability of successful engagement of low-RCS targets, Col. Dani also trained his unit to fight against the NATO air armada. Engagements using the shortest possible radiation of the fire-control radar were practiced over and over, and Col. Dani indicated that they focused on engaging targets well within the possible launch zone to reduce the time of flight of the missiles and, therefore, the reaction time available to the target aircraft…”

Nighthawk Down, 1999
(click to view full scene)

The story – which is well worth reading in full as a testament to the importance of the human factor in war – adds:

“Beyond frequent relocation, RF discipline contributed to the 3rd battery’s eventual survival, and the unit suffered no human or materiel losses at all. Radiation time of the fire-control radar was kept to a minimum, although with the P-18 they could be more liberal, as this VHF radar – according to their experiences – could not be targeted by NATO’s High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARMs). Even with this precaution, though, they were forced to cease radiation and/or missile control 23 times when it became evident from the target-return fluctuations or other indications that a HARM had been launched at them. False transmitters in the vicinity of the battery’s location were also used to spoof the anti-radiation missiles. Dani added that the survivability of the VHF P-18 is the single biggest reason for the command-guided Neva[1] system’s success compared to the semi-active Kub [SA-6] system…”

Moving systems, decoys, intermittent radar emissions, and radars that are outside the missile’s target profile all make life difficult for ARMs that home in on enemy radars.

Fortunately, an age of advanced reconnaissance systems and UAV offers other ways of finding such targets, which may eventually include UAV swarms. Growing trends toward persistent surveillance are even offering the ability to track, remember, and distinguish between found objects. The design question is how to translate those opportunities into a new missile.

AGM-88E AARGM: Addressing the Gaps

ATK: AARGM
click for video

One obvious improvement option is 2-way communication throughout the missile’s flight, but that won’t always be reliable or possible on the battlefield. It’s nice to have, but not enough by itself. The ability to head to a precise area, and to find vehicles independent of their radar emissions, would also add important new ARM capabilities.

The AGM-88E AARGM adds all 3 of these features in order to counter radar shutdown tactics, and adds advanced capabilities that would foil many of Col. Zoltan’s other stratagems. It’s touted as a missile that can pick out and engage a variety of strike targets in addition to enemy air defenses, while providing near real-time Weapon Impact Assessments (WIA) to commanders.

AARGM production to date has involved the conversion and upgrades of existing Raytheon AGM-88B HARM missiles, which are currently used by American and allied fighters. It uses the existing HARM rocket motor and warhead sections, but swaps in a modified control section, and a new guidance section.

AARGM Block 0. Initial fielded variant. Incorporates a datalink, and GPS point-to-point weapon navigation so it can be directed toward known and last-seen targets. On top of that, its multi-sensor system includes passive digital Anti-Radiation Homing with an increased field of view and increased detection range, counter shutdown algorithms that remember where radars were, active Millimeter Wave radar guidance for final attack, and a Weapon Impact Assessment transmitter datalink that sends information back at appropriate times.

AARGM Block 1. Full combat capability. Corrects a number of classified deficiencies, and adds a netted targeting real-time feed via Integrated Broadcast System (IBS) prior to missile launch. The IBS Receiver interfaces lets the system receive national intelligence data directly.

AGM-88E AARGM: The Program

AARGM’s production phase may total up to $1.478 billion for 2,121 missiles, to equip the US Navy & US Marine Corps (1,871: 1,750 active missiles + 121 no-motor CATMs for training), plus up to 250 missiles for the Italian Air Force. Production could expand further if the partnership formally expands to include Germany, for instance, or other export sales materialize. Australia is about to buy EA-18Gs, and has placed some initial orders for AARGM training missiles.

The AGM-88E AARGM was developed by ATK with the US Navy’s AARGM Integrated Product Team, led by the Navy’s Direct and Time Sensitive Strike Program Office (PMA-242). The team also includes members from the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division at China Lake, CA; the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) in Patuxent River, MD; the Italian Air Force, the US National Reconnaissance Office, and industry partners.

Initial Operational Capability involves F/A-18C/D Hornets only. In time, AARGM operational status on the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft, and Tornado IDS/ECR fighters will follow. AARGM is also being designed for compatibility with the US Navy and USMC’s older EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare aircraft, with USAF F-16CJs, and with allied F-16s.

Early Funding

AM Tornado IDS
(click to view full)

Developing these capabilities required assistance from a number of different funding sources. AARGM’s guidance section technology was developed under a series of Phase-I, II, and III US Navy Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract awards from 1990 – 1995. Its missile radome, precision radome machining techniques, and radar gimbal also come from other SBIR or science and technology research initiatives.

SBIR funding is limited, however, and ends at Phase III once the specific technologies being studied are deemed ready for use in commercial designs. Funding for that overall commercial design and development came through the “Quick Bolt” Advanced Concept Technology Demonstrator (ACTD) program, which began in 1999. ACTD concluded in 2003 with very positive a Military Utility Assessment (MUA) from United States European Command (EUCOM), which described AARGM as “a resounding success for the warfighter and the DoD.” By 2006, the program had even secured foreign participation from Italy, and was in talks with Germany.

Timeline & Delays

Despite that promising beginning, AARGM’s subsequent development has been slower than expected.

By February 2011, the US Navy’s 2012 RDT&E Budget Item Justification [PDF] placed IOC at Q3 FY 2011, but Operational Evaluation started late, and was halted early. AARGM didn’t begin IOT&E testing until June 2010, then suffered 6 operational mission failures during captive-carry tests. The problems were traced to poor software and parts quality, and ultimately traced back to management of the program and engineering specifications by ATK. In September 2010, the Navy de-certified AARGM from IOT&E, and the Pentagon rescinded approval for the program’s operational test plan. IOT&E didn’t restart until August 2011, and the back stock of early-production AARGM missiles have had to be individually certified as fit for service.

The program was looking to achieve Initial Operational Capability on just the F/A-18C/D Hornet in Q2 2012, but Full Rate Production (FRP) was been forced back from early 2010 to Q4 2012, and Full Operational Capacity (FOC) was moved back from Q4 FY 2013 to Q3 2014. Even then the missiles aren’t completely fit for purpose. They have (classified) deficiencies that the Navy hopes to fix with software upgrades, at the very end of the testing and evaluation periods.

AARGM Contracts & Key Events

AARGM on EA-18G
(click to view full)

AARGM is a Department of the US Navy major acquisition program under PEO-W, the Program Executive Office, Strike Weapons & Unmanned Aviation. US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) in Patuxent River, MD manages the contracts.

Note that All-Up-Rounds are live missiles, including their storage containers. Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM) have the seeker and electronics, but remove the warhead and rocket motor in favor of ballast that maintains the same weight distribution.

FY 2015 – 2018

Italian Tornado ECRs to be upgraded by end 2015; Negative Pentagon DOT&E report.

F/A-18D launch
(click to view full)

June 1/18: More orders The Navy is tapping Orbital ATK Inc. to upgrade its inventory of guided missiles. The awarded contract modification is valued at $171 million and provides for the procurement of full-rate production for the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) in support of the Navy and the government of Australia. Under the contract Orbital ATK will convert 271 provided AGM-88B High Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles into 253 Navy AGM-88E AARGM all-up-rounds (AURs). The AGM-88E AARGM is a medium range, supersonic, air-launched tactical missile compatible with U.S. and allied strike aircraft, including all variants of the F/A-18, Tornado, EA-18G, F-16, EA-6B, and F-35. Its primary job is to attack and kill enemy radars. AARGM’s production phase may total up to $1.4 billion for 2,121 missiles, to equip the US Navy, US Marine Corps and partnering nations. The contract also includes an option to exercise related services necessary for AARGM manufacture and deployment. Work will be performed in Northridge and Ridgecrest, California and is expected to be completed in March 2020.

January 26/18: Upgrades-Development Contract Orbital ATK announced on January 24, the receipt of a US Navy development contract for the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile-Extended Range (AARGM-ER) upgrade. Based on the AGM-88E currently in full-rate production, the AARGM-ER will take the electronics and sensors from the AGM-88E and package it with an upgraded rocket motor and tail control system. Work on the AARGM-ER contract will be performed at Orbital ATK’s facilities in Northridge and Ridgecrest, California, and will result in a preliminary design prior to entry into the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase. The value of the contract was not revealed.

October 20/17: A $18.2 million US Navy contract modification has been awarded to Orbital ATK to undertake conversion work of high-speed, anti-radiation missiles into advanced medium-range air-to-ground guided missiles with counter-enemy shutdown capability for the Italian government. The previous firm-fixed contract award called for the procurement and transition of AGM-88B High-speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARM), to the latest generation of AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM). Differences between the two munitions is that the AARGM has an advanced guidance section and control abilities that use a multi-mode seeker to counter enemy shut-down capability, as well as an onboard Weapons Impact Assessment subsystem that supports battlefield commanders in conducting after-action battle damage assessments. It can also relay impact assessment data prior to the impact on target. The majority of the contract’s work will take place in California, with some to take place in Istrana, Italy. Contract conclusion is scheduled to March 2019.

September 29/17: Orbital ATK has announced the award of a $359 million contract from the US Navy to continue full-rate production of AGM-88E advanced anti-radiation guided missiles (AARGM). The initial contract includes a $157 million award for Lot Six full-rate production, as well as an option for Lot Seven, and covers all-up round missiles and captive air training missiles for the US Navy, Italian Air Force and other allies through Foreign Military Sales orders. The missile is integrated into the weapons systems on the FA-18C/D Hornet, FA-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft, and is anticipated to achieve Initial Operational Capability on the Italian Air Force’s Tornado ECR aircraft in 2018.

April 27/16: Orbital ATK has been awarded a $121.3 million contract by the US Navy to provide conversion services of old stocks of US government-provided AGM-88B high-speed anti-radiation missiles. The conversion will see the munitions turned into 145 full-rate production Lot 5 advanced anti-radiation guided missile all-up-rounds, and 12 captive air training missiles, including related supplies and services necessary for manufacture, sparing, and fleet deployment of the missiles, for the Navy and the government of Italy. Completion is expected by September 2018.

April 13/16: Orbital ATK’s production of the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) was ceased for five weeks due to bad resistors supplied by a sub-contractor. The supplier quality issue will likely result in delays to the delivery of the company’s second and third full-production contracts. Developed as an improvement on the HARM missile, the AGM-88E contains a more modern homing receiver and navigation system to detect the radar signals of both stationary and mobile air-defense systems.

March 29/16: Orbital ATK is to keep producing AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) multi-mode seekers until 2023. The extended orders were made by the US Navy, which requires 556 additional units. The addition, among some other changes, has caused a bump in the program’s cost by $484.8 million to over $2 billion. Jointly developed by the USA and Italy, the missile modification aims to improve the effectiveness of legacy Raytheon AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) variants against fixed and relocatable enemy radar and communications sites, particularly those that shut down to throw off incoming anti-radiation missiles.

September 25/15: The Navy and Orbital ATK successfully conducted a test-firing of the Block 1 AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) in August, the company announced on Thursday. A Super Hornet was used to launch the missile, which struck a moving ship target. Further tests are planned before the upgrade is rolled out. The US Marine Corps and Navy currently operate the missile, with the Italian Air Force scheduled to employ the weapon on its Tornado ECR attack aircraft from 2017.

FY 2013 – 2014

 

April 23/14: FRP-3. ATK Defense Electronic Systems in Northridge, CA receives an $83.4 million firm-fixed-price contract modification for AARGM Full Rate Production Lot 3: conversion of 110 AGM-88B high-speed anti-radiation missiles to a combination of AGM-88E all-up-rounds and captive air training missiles, plus include related supplies and services. An Aug 11/13 ATK release places the total contract value at $96.2 million instead.

All funds are committed immediately, using FY 2014 US Navy budgets. Work will be performed in Northridge, CA (90%); Fusaro, Italy (8%); and Ridgecrest, CA (2%), and is expected to be complete in December 2016. US NAVAIR in Patuxent River, MD manages the contract (N00019-13-C-0162). See also ATK, “ATK’s Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile Earns Third Full-Rate Production Award from U.S. Navy”.

FRP Lot 3

March 4-11/14: FY15 Budget. The US military slowly files its budget documents, detailing planned spending from FY 2014 – 2019. From FY 2014 – 2016, the Navy has removed 221 AARGM missiles, compared with previous plans. See above for key charts etc. The new projections imagine that they’ll be able to buy 77 more missiles than planned in FY 2017 – 2018, but those kinds of future increases have a way of evaporating. Detailed budget documents add:

“The prior year quantity should be 186 due to the program procuring 10 additional missiles with FY 2012 funding at Full-Rate Production-2 (FRP-2) contract award in September 2013…. All-Up-Rounds (AURs) and Captive Air Training Missiles (CATMs) modification kit procurement quantity reduced in FY 2013 – FY 2016 due to Italian Air Force budget/funding restructuring, effects of sequestration reduction in FY 2013 through Future Years Defense Program and funding adjustments for other Navy priorities. Quantity increased in FY 2017 – FY 2019 in order to meet program of record. The quantity in FY 2015 is higher than FY 2014 due to the missile cost, which now includes Integrated Broadcast Service-Receiver (IBS-R) capability in FY 2015 and out years.”

Jan 28/14: DOT&E Testing Report. The Pentagon releases the FY 2013 Annual Report from its Office of the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E). AARGM is included, and the verdict remains the same: changes have made it operationally suitable (usable/ maintainable), but not operationally effective due to classified deficiencies.

All relevant parties have agreed to a framework that will adequately test the AARGM Block 1 Upgrade, but funding reductions are pushing planned FOT&E testing out of FY 2014, and into FY 2015 or even FY 2016. When that’s all taken care of, the Navy intends to conduct software upgrades of all Block 0 FRP missiles to Block 1, conducted at the squadron level.

Sept 25/13: FRP-2. ATK Defense Electronic Systems in Woodland Hills, CA receives a $102.4 million firm-fixed-price contract for AARGM Full Rate Production Lot II. They’ll convert Raytheon’s AGM-88B HARM missiles to AGM-88E all-up-round operational missiles and captive air training missiles (CATMs) for the US Navy (97/ $80.3M/ 78%) and the Government of Italy (15/ $12.8M/ 13%), plus related supplies and services. As an export sale, They’ll also convert AGM-88B HARM missiles to AGM-88E AARGM CATMs for the Government of Australia (8/ $9.3M/ 9%), and provide related supplies and services.

All funds are committed immediately. Work will be performed in Northridge, CA (90%); Fusaro, Italy (8%); and Ridgecrest, CA (2%), and is expected to be complete in December 2015. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD, is the contracting activity (N00019-13-C-0162).

FRP Lot 2: USA, Italy, Australia

Aug 5/13: #100. A ceremony Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, CA marks the 100th AARGM missile delivery. Sources: US NAVAIR, Aug 8/13 release.

#100 delivered

May 31/13: Australia. The US Navy signs an agreement with the Australian Government to provide training related to Raytheon’s AGM-88 HARM (High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile) and ATK’s AGM-88E AARGM (Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile), as part of the RAAF’s EA-18G Growler buy. They’ll be able to support whichever missile the RAAF chooses, though AARGM seems to be the target.

While it’s just a training capability, its the 1st Foreign Military Sales agreement with any country regarding AARGM. Italy is something else: a co-development partner. Sources: US NAVAIR, June 18/13 release.

Australia agreement

Tornado ECR MLU
(click to view full)

May 9/13: Italian upgrades. Alenia Aermacchi, BAE Systems, and EADS Cassidian delivered the 1st upgraded Italian Tornado ECR (Electronic Combat/ Reconnaissance air defense suppression variant) to the Italian Air Force. Alenia Aermacchi is the technical and program leader for the program, which will upgrade 15 planes to “Tornado ECR MLU” standard for service to 2025, and possibly beyond.

The upgrades begin in the cockpit, using an array of color, night-vision compatible LCS displays to replace key instruments. The new communication and identification system improves communications security, and add Link-16 battlefield situational awareness system via a MIDS box that integrates TACAN navigation functionalities. An integrated IN-GPS navigation system, supported by a Multi-Mode Receiver (MMR) system for approaches and ILS blind landings.

GPS awareness extends to sensors and weapons, with ELS multi-ship ranging and other software improvements added to improve pickup, identification, and localization of enemy radar emitters. Ordnance-related software changes allow the aircraft to carry new sensors, and adds GPS-guided weapons like AARGM and JDAM. Alenia.

March 11/13: Italian upgrades. NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) signs the MET 27 contract annex with the Panavia Tornado consortium. The contract will integrate the AARGM missile and the GPS-guided GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb onto the Aeronautica Millitare’s Tornado RET 7 and RET 8 configurations.

This effort builds on a larger upgrade effort, which began in December 2010. Implementation will take 3 years plus flight test activity, and is expected by by December 2015 thanks to some advance work. Alenia.

Jan 17/13: DOT&E Report. The Pentagon releases the FY 2012 Annual Report from its Office of the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E). AARGM is still rated as “not effective,” as “the current [Block 0] weapon configuration has multiple performance shortfalls that largely negate its ability to accomplish its mission.” 2012 was mostly about making fixes, many of which involved communications between the control sections and guidance section. The USN expects AARGM Block 1 to provide Full Operational Capability, with testing scheduled in FY 2014.

That’s after the Navy will be asked to make a decision to buy FRP Lot 2, in late FY 2013. DOT&E’s other concern is that the testing will cost more than the program has in reserve, and notes that a shortage of AARGM telemetry kits is already identified as a potential problem. Finally, this quote bears mention:

“Immediately preceding a February 2012 test event involving two other live-missile shots, the Navy notified DOT&E that the planned threat scenario would likely result in mission failure due to a classified AARGM deficiency (details available in the classified DOT&E IOT&E report). Without DOT&E consent, the Navy modified the approved test scenario to alleviate the classified deficiency and proceeded with live-missile testing. DOT&E disagreed with the adjusted threat representation and subsequently assessed these events as operational failures.”

FY 2011 – 2012

IOC delayed by testing problems, low quality parts; Full-Rate Production approved – conditionally; LRIP-3 multinational order.

F/A-18E test w. HARMs
(click to view full)

Sept 24/12: ATK’s Defense Electronic Systems in Woodland Hills, CA received an $8 million cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order under AARGM’s basic ordering agreement for AARGM Block I software changes, improvements, and enhancements. It also covers other enhancements to the basic system, “implement [the] deferred Capability Production Document,” and change Common Munitions Built-in Test Reprogramming Equipment boxes 4 and 6 to correct Initial Operational Test & Evaluation deficiencies.

Work will be performed in Woodland Hills, CA, and is expected to be complete in January 2015. All contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/12 (N00019-11-G-0014).

Sept 10/12: FRP-1. ATK Defense Electronics Systems in Woodland Hills, CA receives a $70.6 million firm-fixed-price contract for AARGM Full Rate Production Lot 1. ATK will convert 53 AGM-88B HARM missiles provided by the US government, turning them into 49 AGM-88E AARGM All-Up Rounds for the US Navy, and 4 missiles for Italy. ATK will also provide 23 AGM-88E Captive Air Training Missile systems for the US Navy, which have seekers but no rocket motors, along with all related supplies and services.

Work will be performed in Woodland Hills, CA (90%); various locations in Italy (8.1%); Ridgecrest, CA (1.7%), and Clearwater, FL (0.2%), and is expected to be complete in December 2012. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. This contract combines purchases for the Navy ($65.0M / 92.06%) and the Government of Italy ($5.6M / 7.94%). US Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD manages the contract (N00019-12-C-0113).

FRP Lot 1: USA, Italy

Aug 29/12: FRP. US NAVAIR announces that the Department of the Navy has authorized Full-Rate Production (FRP) for AARGM. What they misleadingly fail to say is that only the first lot of FRP missiles are approved, with any other orders depending on a program review by the end of FY 2013.

The Navy plans to award an 81-missile FRP contract to ATK later in 2012: 72 missiles for the USN, and 9 for the Italian Air Force, to be delivered in late 2013. See also Everett Herald Business Journal, which questions the authorization in light of testing problems. The Pentagon’s DOT&E 2012 report subsequently explains the limited nature of that approval.

FRP

April 4/12: Block I fix. ATK Defense Electronic Systems in Woodland Hills, CA receives a $10.6 million cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order for the AARGM Block I upgrade. They’ll handle AARGM Block I software changes, improvements, and enhancements that will enable the AGM-88E, as well as the common munitions built-in test reprogramming equipment boxes 4 and 6, to correct initial operational test and evaluation deficiencies, implement deferred capability product documentation capability, and add capability enhancements.

Work will be performed in Woodland Hills, CA, and is expected to be complete in April 2015. All funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/12. US Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD manages the contract (N00019-11-G-0014).

March 30/12: GAO report. The US GAO tables its “Assessments of Selected Weapon Programs” for 2012, which is very critical of ATK’s program management:

“[AARGM] entered production in September 2008 with its critical technologies mature and design stable, but without demonstrating its production processes were in control. The Navy halted operational testing in September 2010 after a series of missile failures… caused by both hardware and software issues. The hardware failures involved multiple subcontractors and were primarily attributed to poor parts quality… supplier assessments conducted in the aftermath of the program’s test failures found several problems with the prime contractor’s management of its suppliers. For example, not all program requirements had flowed down to the subcontractor level, nor had subcontractors received updated drawings as design changes were made.”

Recoverry from that situation has been rocky, but it’s making progress:

“…in July 2011, Navy test officials evaluating the program’s readiness to reenter operational testing reported that the reliability of the missiles coming out of the factory had not improved. The Navy has implemented additional controls to identify missiles of poor quality, in particular, requiring each missile to be flight tested for 3 hours before accepting them… the Navy noted that the AARGM program continues to pursue should cost initiatives, awarding low-rate production contracts within should cost targets for planned quantities… The Navy stated that reliability continues to improve and is now over twice the threshold requirement.”

Jan 17/12: DOT&E test report. The Pentagon releases the FY 2011 Annual Report from its Office of the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E). AARGM is included. The program restarted IOT&E testing in August 2011, using low-rate initial production (LRIP) missiles per the restart approval. They expect to finish in Q2 2012, and deliver a report in Q3 2012 that will affect the program’s approval for full-rate production. How did they get here?

“AARGM commenced IOT&E in June 2010, but during initial captive-carry flight tests, it suffered six operational mission failures. In September 2010, the Navy subsequently de-certified AARGM from IOT&E, and DOT&E rescinded approval for the program’s operational test plan… DOT&E assessed that [4 / 6] operational mission failures encountered during the first IOT&E period were discoveries developmental testing should have identified. IT and dedicated IOT&E is appropriately scoped and resourced with 10 live-fire LRIP missiles, along with captive-carry, reliability, and compatibility testing in operational environments against threat-representative targets.”

Oct 31/11: LRIP-3. Alliant Techsystems in Woodland Hills, CA receives a $54.4 million firm-fixed-price contract for AARGM Low Rate Initial Production Lot 3. The LRIP-3 contract involves the conversion of 51 AGM-88B HARM missiles from the US government into 51 AGM-88E AARGM missiles: 44 all-up-round (AUR) and captive air training (CATM) missile systems for the U.S. Navy ($47.15M/ 87%); and 7 AURs/CATMs for the government of Italy ($7.25M/ 13%), including related supplies and services. LRIP-3 brings the total number of ordered AARGM missiles for the U.S. Navy and Italian Air Force to 115 so far.

AARGM remains in the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) phase and has undergone more than 300 hours of missile flight testing and multiple live fires. When IOT&E ends in early 2012, AARGM will achieve Initial Operational Capability (IOC) with the FA-18C/D Hornet, and Super Hornet family and Tornado ECR fighters will eventually follow.

Work will be performed in Woodland Hills, CA (89.2%); Fusaro, Italy (7.5%); Ridgecrest, CA (1.7%); Piacenza, Italy (1.4%); and Clearwater, FL (0.2%). Work is expected to be complete in May 2013, and $517,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/12. This contract was not competitively procured, pursuant to FAR 6.302-1, as the AARGM Italian Cooperative Program follows the Production Sustainment and Follow-On Development Memorandum of Agreement between the U.S. Navy and the Italian Ministry of Defense (N00019-12-C-2005). See also ATK release.

LRIP Lot 3: USA, Italy

August 2011: IOT&E resumes.

Aug 12/11: IOC delayed. AARGM Initial Operational Capability (IOC) faces a further 9-month delay to February 2012. Costs aren’t expected to rise significantly. DefenseNews.

May 25/11: EA-18G. AARGM successfully completes its 1st EA-18G Growler test, during a captive-carry flight at China Lake, CA. Work with the electronic attack fighter will continue, in parallel with the ongoing AARGM Integrated Test & Evaluation phase using FA-18C/D Hornets.

The test squadrons have also used Super Hornets, and Cmdr. Chad Reed, deputy program manager for Anti-Radiation Missiles within the Direct and Time Sensitive Strike program office (PMA-242), says that F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler testing since November 2010 totals 25 flight hours, compared to over 150 flight-hours on F/A-18C/D Hornets. US NAVAIR | ATK.

April 27/11: Back on track? Serious quality issues that had stopped AARGM combat testing and threatened a full production decision have supposedly been resolved. US Navy program manager Captain Brian Corey told Bloomberg News that:

“The anomalies experienced in the first operational test period have been corrected and verified… The weapon is performing very well and the team has been able to meet the affordability goals… We are confident we will successfully complete [combat testing/OpEval].”

The revised AARGM missile has flown more than 160 flight hours on aircraft since February 2011 to assess its readiness to resume combat testing. The Navy plans 100 flights to evaluate the missile’s effectiveness, with initial flights assessing missile guidance, internal diagnostics, and pre-launch communications with the pilot. See also Sept 3/10 entry.

FY 2008 – 2010

Milestone C approval; 1st delivery and LRIP orders; But testing failures force halt.

Stop.
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Sept 3/10: Testing. The US Navy halts AARGM IOT&E testing, after 6 software or circuit-card failures in the first 12 trials. This is not a common occurrence. Later reports say that the hardware failures involved multiple subcontractors, and involved poor quality parts. Source.

Tests halted

July 30/10: LRIP-2. Alliant Techsystems (ATK) Mission Systems Group’s Defense Electronics Systems Division in Woodland Hills, CA receives a $50.1 million firm-fixed-price contract for AARGM Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Lot II manufacturing. This contract provides for the conversion of 37 government furnished AGM-88B HARM missiles into AGM-88E AARGM All-Up Round (AUR)/Captive Air Training (CATM) missile systems for the US Navy (33, $38.1 million, 76%) and the government of Italy (4, $11.9 million, 24%), including related supplies and services.

Work will be performed in Woodland Hills, CA (75%); Rocket Center, WVA (11%); Piacenza, La Spezia, Italy (6%); Rome, Italy (6%); Clearwater, FL (2%), and is expected to be complete in February 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. US Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD manages the contract (N00019-10-C-0065).

LRIP Lot 2: USA, Italy

July 14/10: Acceptance. ATK announces that the US Navy has accepted its 1st deliveries of AGM-88E AARGM production missiles. The missiles were handed over at ATK’s Allegany Ballistics Laboratory (ABL) facility in Rocket Center, WVA.

1st delivery

Aug 7/09: Test. The 8th and final development test (DT) firing of the AGM-88E AARGM takes place at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, CA. It used the final missile hardware and software configuration, intended for Navy Independent Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) later in 2009.

The test shot was launched from a US Navy FA-18C Hornet in a scenario designed to test the missile’s capabilities to maneuver and perform in a short time-of-flight profile under heavy enemy counter-measures. During missile flight, AARGM successfully detected, identified, and located an enemy air defense unit (ADU) using its anti-radiation-homing (ARH) receiver. It then demonstrated its designed ability to minimize collateral damage and friendly fire by navigating clear of pre-planned impact avoidance zones. In the terminal phase, AARGM used its multi-mode sensor suite to overcome advanced target countermeasures, accurately guiding towards and directly hitting the enemy target. ATK’s Sept 3/09 release.

July 30/09: The House addresses Rep. Jeff Flake’s [R-AZ-6] proposed amendments to the FY 2010 House defense budget, including “H.Amdt. 402: An amendment numbered 439 printed in Part B of House Report 111-233 to prohibit funding for AARGM Counter Air Defense Future Capabilities.”

The amendment fails, 348-78. Its failure is bipartisan, with Republicans and Democrats both opposed in numbers, but almost all of its supporters are from the Republican Party. Flake’s district is actually near Phoenix, AZ. The 2 House members whose districts are most closely tied to AARGM competitor Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, AZ, actually voted against this amendment: Raul Grijalva [D-AZ-7] and Gabrielle Giffords [D-AZ-8]

April 13/08: Test. A successful test firing at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake marks the 12th successful live fire test, on top of 200 flight tests, and 58 “captive carry” tests of the guidance systems and receivers. This test is similar to the Aug 11/08 test, but adds discrimination among multiple targets, prioritization of the most important target, and a last-minute send-back transmission for use in battle damage assessment. ATK release.

Dec 22/08: LRIP-1. Alliant Techsystems Mission Systems Group, Advanced Weapons Division in Woodland Hills, CA received a fixed price incentive fee contract with a not-to-exceed value of $55.1 million for the low-rate initial production of AGM-88E AARGM missiles – to include conversion of 27 existing AGM-88B HARM missiles into 27 AGM-88E AARGM All-Up-Round (AUR)/Captive Air Training (CATM) missile systems. CATMs contain seekers, but no rocket motors.

Work will be performed in Woodland Hills, CA (87.5%); Rocket Center, WVa (11%); and Clearwater, FL (1.5%), and is expected to be complete in March 2011. The Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD manages this contract (N00019-09-C-0026).

LRIP Lot 1

Sept 30/08: Milestone C. The AGM-88E AARGM successfully completes its Milestone C review, paving the way for Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP). Mr. Sean J. Stackley, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition, signed the Acquisition Decision Memorandum (ADM), following AARGM’s Operational Assessment (OA) in August 2008. NAVAIR release | ATK release.

Milestone C

Aug 11/08: Test. A 2nd test firing takes place at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, this time designed to test the missile against enemy “shutdown tactics.” Launched from an F/A-18D Hornet, the AARGM detected, identified, located, and guided toward the emitter target using its Anti-Radiation Homing (ARH) receiver. After target radar emissions were purposely shut-down during the missile’s flight profile, AARGM utilized its GPS/INS to guide to the final ARH cue-point. For final approach, it successfully employed active Millimeter Wave (MMW) radar tracking to pinpoint and target the air defense site. The firing was the 4th of 8 planned developmental firings, and the final missile live-fire event leading to a Milestone C LRIP decision for AARGM. ATK release.

Aug 3/08: Test. A successful test at China Lake marks the first of two “Operational Assessment” firings supporting a Milestone C Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) decision later in 2008.

The AARGM was launched off-axis at medium altitude from an FA-18D Hornet. In this realistic scenario, AARGM successfully picked out the air defense system target in a cluttered environment, using its precision navigation to stay clear of designated impact avoidance zones (which prevents strikes in sensitive, neutral, or friendly regions), and guiding itself to lethal range. ATK release.

FY 2003 – 2007

Development contract; Italy joins; Germany signs MoU but doesn’t join.

F/A-18D fires AARGM
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July 20/07: Germany. Alliant Techsystems (ATK) announces a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with MBDA LFK-Lenkflugkorpersysteme GmbH, to assess potential work share opportunities with the German Ministry of Defense (MoD) on the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM). The MOU focuses on identifying opportunities for Germany in the production and product improvement phase of the AARGM program, as well as opportunities for additional derivatives of its predecessor the AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM).

This isn’t an MoU with the German government, but it’s the kind of activity usually precedes procurement decisions in multi-national projects. See our entries below, for instance, to observe that Italy became the first international partner of ATK and the U.S. Department of Defense when its Ministry of Defense signed a work share agreement in 2005. If the German MoD joins the AARGM cooperative team, LFK would be integrated into this industry team. ATK release.

May 25/07: 1st firing. The first Developmental Test (DT) firing of an AARGM missile takes place from an F/A-18 aircraft on the China Lake test ranges. The missile successfully achieves safe separation from the aircraft, navigates over an extended range to the designated target, and guides to a direct hit. The successful flight test meets all test objectives. These included AARGM’s compatibility with ATK’s Common Munitions Built-in-test/Reprogramming Equipment (CMBRE), compatibility with the Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS) and AWM-103, compatibility with the F/A-18C/D 21X Software Configuration Set, and the successful integration of AARGM hardware and software with legacy AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) components.

The missile also achieved 7 successful flights firing the Quick Bolt Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) and AARGM Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) phases of the program. A series of additional launches is planned during the SD&D phase.

April 5/06: CDR. The AARGM passes a Critical Design Review. During a CDR, all elements are reviewed to ensure that the weapon system’s predicted performance will meet warfighting requirements and that the program remains on schedule and on cost. The CDR was also the first major review attended by the Italian Air Force since signing a Memorandum of Agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense to participate in AARGM development. See ATK release.

CDR

AM Tornado IDS
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Feb 3/06: Italy in. ATK Missile Systems Co. LLC in Woodland Hills, CA received a $19.3 million ceiling-priced modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract. It covers risk reduction efforts and production of the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) for the Government of Italy under a Memorandum of Agreement.

Efforts to be provided under this specific contract include a point-to-point firing; modification of an aircraft to perform additional captive flight tests; real and surrogate targets for use during captive flight test program; development of software models of specific targets; and establishment of an Italian source to assemble common control sections. Work will be performed in Mantova, Italy (37%), Pratica di Mare, Italy (25%), La Spezia, Italy (6%), and Woodland Hills, CA (32%); and is expected to be completed in April 2009. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD issued the contract (N00019-03-C-0353).

November 2005: Italian MoU. The Italian Ministry of Defense and the US Department of Defense signed a Memorandum of Agreement on the joint development of the AGM-88E AARGM missile, which will equip their Tornado strike aircraft. Italy is providing $20 million of developmental funding as well as several millions worth material, equipment and related services.

Italy joins

June 19/03: SDD contract. ATK Missile Systems Co. LLC in Woodland Hills, CA receives a $222.6 million ceiling-priced, cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for the system development and design of the AGM-88E advanced anti-radiation guided missile (AARGM). The scope of the contract is the design, development and demonstration of a multi-mode AGM-88E AARGM seeker that will include an anti-radiation homing receiver, global positioning system/ inertial measuring unit and terminal radar to meet current Navy operational requirements. In addition, the contract provides for 7 special test units; 9 engineering, development models for developmental testing and operational assessment; and 15 production representative AGM-88E AARGMs. The whole program through the production phase was valued at $1.55 billion.

Work will be performed in Woodland Hills, CA (88%); San Diego, CA (7%); Van Nuys, CA (2%); Santa Barbara, CA (1%); Torrance, CA (1%); and Bourges Cedex, France (1%), and is expected to be completed in September 2008. This contract was not competitively procured by the Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD (N00019-03-C-0353). See also Deagel.

System Design & Development

Footnotes

1. Note that the SA-3 is known by more than one designation. SA-3 Goa is the NATO designation. S-125 is the Russian designation, and they call it the Neva or (if it’s the 2000 upgrade) S-125 Pechora.

Additional Readings

• US NAVAIR, via WayBack – NAWCWD AARGM Missile CRADA.

• US NAVAIR – AARGM.

• ATK – Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM).

• Raytheon – High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM). A new HARM HCSM retrofit adds a GPS receiver and an improved inertial measurement unit, and merges targeting solutions from navigation and seeker systems. That makes it a de facto AARGM competitor.

• Global Security – AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM), AARGM’s predecessor.

(B2) Le tribunal de l'UE a rejeté ce jeudi (31 mai) le recours intenté par Khaled Kaddour, un homme d’affaires syrien qui demandait le dégel de ses avoirs par les autorités européennes. Inscrit sur la liste noire 'syrie' très tôt, depuis le 23 juin 2011, Khaled Kaddour est un proche et un soutien du régime. […]

Cet article Le gel des avoirs d’un businessman syrien proche de Maher Al-Assad confirmé est apparu en premier sur Bruxelles2.