FUTURE F-35 AARGM UPDATES

The DARPA and AFRL persistent area dominance program is interesting for this very reason. Releasing dozens on autonomous mini drones similar to the Switchblade would be an effective solution against the S400's point defenses. Cheap and numerous enough to swamp any defense.

There was talk of a 1,000km variant of ATACMS and even an SLIRBM program, that would also be useful. Especially if they could be loaded with cluster munition warhead.

http://defensetech.org/2013/10/22/army- ... e-systems/

Or even mastercard:

http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Success ... e_999.html

A 2-stage ATACMS with guided submunitions would be the way to go.

Wouldn't this make the Army relevant again in the Pacific? Also the USN might be interested in a VL version of this weapon.

AARGM-ER(Courtesy James Drew)

Are there any better pics of the AARGM re-design than this? My Google-Fu has has failed me.

Nothing wrong with your Google-Fu... IIRC that was it's public unveiling.

Here is the AARGM_ER fact sheet from Orbital ATK.

https://www.orbitalatk.com/defense-syst ... 0FINAL.pdf

Poor b variants. They miss out on a a lot of the cool stuff.

Nice. The mmw seeker should enable to discriminate and target specific vehicles transporting relocatable AD components.
Then confirm the kill.
https://defensesystems.com/articles/201 ... /navy.aspx

Navy adds millimeter wave radar to AGM-88B anti-radiation

The U.S. Navy is working with Orbital ATK to convert AGM-88B High Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles into 25 AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) All-Up-Rounds as part of an effort to destroy relocatable air defenses.

Additional features of the AARGM include weapon-impact-assessment transmit, millimeter wave radar terminal seeker, global positioning system/Inertial Navigation System guidance, net-centric connectivity, and digital, anti-radiation homing sensor.

AGM-88E AARGM is used by the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and the Italian Air Force, to engage and destroy hostile air defenses and mobile targets that are time sensitive.

The AARGM was developed by Orbital ATK as a medium-range, air-to-ground missile. The main goal of this technology is to target enemy air defenses. This updated missile is designed to engage relocatable Integrated Air Defense targets.

Updates to this missile provide new capabilities include such features as advanced signal processing, improved frequency coverage, detection range, and field of view; missile-impact zone control to prevent collateral damage and bomb damage assessment, according to Orbital ATK.

AARGM will include the latest software and enhanced capabilities. The AARGM system is designed to be used as a counter radar shutdown. In addition, both a passive radar and an active millimeter wave seekers will be installed on the AARGM.

Would probably work well against TBM TEL's if it had those templates.

Would probably work well against TBM TEL's if it had those templates.

SDB-II more cost-effective.

Poor b variants. They miss out on a a lot of the cool stuff.

We'll always have Paris....


...And External Carry

The LHD's aren't going anywhere by themselves, There won't be a shortage of things that go bang.

F-35 and AARGM combo sounds like a real killer. Thinking about it from AD radar operator PoV it sounds like nightmare. Having almost invisible ARM shooter with capabilities to counter short emission duration and shut-down tactics is very difficult one to counter and psychologically really tough to handle. With older SEAD aircraft the operators had pretty good idea what was in the air (even with EW) and when they were under attack. There were tactics to counter ARM attacks because of it. With F-35 and AARGM the uncertainty grows a lot and makes it very dangerous to emit radar signals. It might well be that radar blowing up is the first signal of being under attack. AARGM looks like it might have very low RCS itself and is likely quite a bit faster and longer ranged than HARM.

F-35 and AARGM combo sounds like a real killer. Thinking about it from AD radar operator PoV it sounds like nightmare. Having almost invisible ARM shooter with capabilities to counter short emission duration and shut-down tactics is very difficult one to counter and psychologically really tough to handle. With older SEAD aircraft the operators had pretty good idea what was in the air (even with EW) and when they were under attack. There were tactics to counter ARM attacks because of it. With F-35 and AARGM the uncertainty grows a lot and makes it very dangerous to emit radar signals. It might well be that radar blowing up is the first signal of being under attack. AARGM looks like it might have very low RCS itself and is likely quite a bit faster and longer ranged than HARM.

^^^^This.

AARGM has a longer range than HARM. AARGM-ER has double the range of AARGM. This makes for a very potent combination, for SEAD/DEAD.

F-35 and AARGM combo sounds like a real killer. Thinking about it from AD radar operator PoV it sounds like nightmare. Having almost invisible ARM shooter with capabilities to counter short emission duration and shut-down tactics is very difficult one to counter and psychologically really tough to handle. With older SEAD aircraft the operators had pretty good idea what was in the air (even with EW) and when they were under attack. There were tactics to counter ARM attacks because of it. With F-35 and AARGM the uncertainty grows a lot and makes it very dangerous to emit radar signals. It might well be that radar blowing up is the first signal of being under attack. AARGM looks like it might have very low RCS itself and is likely quite a bit faster and longer ranged than HARM.

^^^^This.

AARGM has a longer range than HARM. AARGM-ER has double the range of AARGM. This makes for a very potent combination, for SEAD/DEAD.

HARM is AARGM. Same airframe, same motor. The only thing that changed was the electronics and sensors. AARGM was originally supposed to be a ducted rocket variant. In the end they cheaped out and only updated the brains. AARGM-ER is a completely different beast for which there are NO plans to move forward with. It's a concept only at this point.

AARGM-ER is a completely different beast for which there are NO plans to move forward with. It's a concept only at this point.

Au contraire mon frère

It is a well funded R&D project in the FY2018 budget.



http://www.dtic.mil/descriptivesum/Y201 ... B_2018.pdf

In this instance I'm delighted to be wrong.