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United States Northrop Grumman
AGM-88E AARGM
The Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile: a supersonic air-launched SEAD/DEAD weapon that rebuilds the AGM-88 HARM with a new guidance section combining a digital anti-radiation homing receiver, GPS/INS and a millimeter-wave terminal seeker, letting it defeat radars that shut down after launch. Carried by the F/A-18C/D/E/F, EA-18G Growler, Tornado ECR and (externally) the F-35, it is fielded by the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, Italian Air Force and German Air Force. Northrop Grumman inherited the program with its 2018 acquisition of Orbital ATK; it is the baseline for the extended-range AGM-88G AARGM-ER.
In service since 2012 · 4 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-16
148
km range
2
Mach
68
kg warhead
💲 ≈ $870,000, In production at NG's Missile Integration Facility, Rocket Center WV; 500th delivery reached under Orbital ATK, more since
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
US ITAR-controlled
Export needs U.S. State Dept (DDTC) approval; end-use & re-transfer restrictions apply.
Channel: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Direct Commercial Sale
Fielded & proven
Established · 4 operators
In service since 2012. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
Unit cost known; one-shot / small-arms class has no meaningful O&S tail to model.
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters. | 2 Mach |
|---|---|
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 148 km |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Warhead Warhead mass. Heavier generally means larger effect radius, at the cost of range. | 68 kg |
|---|---|
| Warhead type Blast-fragmentation, shaped charge (HEAT), penetrator, thermobaric or nuclear-capable. | WAU-7/B blast-fragmentation (68 kg) |
| Guidance How the weapon finds its target: inertial, GPS/GLONASS, active/semi-active radar, infrared, laser, TV, wire. | Digital anti-radiation homing receiver, Millimeter-wave radar terminal seeker, GPS, Inertial navigation |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 4.17 m |
|---|---|
| Wingspan Wingtip-to-wingtip span. | 1.13 m |
| Width Overall width, matters for rail/road transport of vehicles. | 0.25 m |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 361 kg |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | Thiokol SR113-TC-1 dual-thrust solid rocket motor |
|---|---|
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Solid-fuel rocket motor (from AGM-88 HARM) |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper. | $870,000 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 4 |
Specifications compiled from public Northrop Grumman and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-16.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
Head-to-head comparisons
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AAM-4 Frequently asked questions
What is the range of the Northrop Grumman AGM-88E AARGM? +
The Northrop Grumman AGM-88E AARGM has a maximum range of 148 km.
How much does the Northrop Grumman AGM-88E AARGM weigh? +
The Northrop Grumman AGM-88E AARGM has a combat weight of 361 kg.
What engine does the Northrop Grumman AGM-88E AARGM use? +
The Northrop Grumman AGM-88E AARGM is powered by the Thiokol SR113-TC-1 dual-thrust solid rocket motor.
What is the Northrop Grumman AGM-88E AARGM used for? +
The Northrop Grumman AGM-88E AARGM is a missile typically used for strike.
How many countries operate the Northrop Grumman AGM-88E AARGM? +
The Northrop Grumman AGM-88E AARGM is operated by 4 countries.
How much does the Northrop Grumman AGM-88E AARGM cost? +
The Northrop Grumman AGM-88E AARGM has an approximate unit cost of 870,000 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration, treat this as directional.
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