The Navy has awarded ATK [ATK] a $54.4-million dollar contract for the third phase of low-rate initial production (LRIP) for the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guiderd Missile (AARGM), the company recently said.

The contract will raise the total number AARGMs produced since the first LRIP phase in 2008 to 115 missiles for the Navy and Italian Air Force, ATK said this week.

AARGM is designed to be a supersonic, multi-role, air-launched missile with extended range and is carried on the F/A-18s, EA 18Gs and Tornado ECR aircraft. It is also compatible with the F-35, EA6-B, and U.S. and allied F-16s, ATK said.

The AARGM program is a U.S. and Italian international cooperative with the Navy acting as the executive.

AARGM is in the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) phase. The missile is expected to reach initial operational capability (IOC) on F/A-18C/D aircraft after completing IOT&E in early 2012, ATK said.