The State Department this week approved a potential $506 million sale of Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles-Extended Range (AARGM-ER) to Australia for use against land and sea-based radar related to enemy air defenses.
Northrop Grumman [NOC] is the prime contractor for AARGM-ER. Congress was notified of the potential Foreign Military Sale (FMS) on Feb. 27.
The sale would cover up to 63 AARGM-ERs and up to 20 AARGM-ER captive air training missiles. Other items included in the pending deal are AGM-88G AARGM-ER dummy air training missiles, containers, parts, software and training.
In February, the State Department announced more than $11.6 billion in potential FMS deals, the largest being a $10 billion sale to Poland for 18 M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers and related equipment and munitions. The U.S.-supplied HIMARS system is being used with great effect by Ukraine in its war against Russia.
The State Department said the AARGM-ER sale to Australia will improve that country’s ability to meet current and future threats, denying adversaries the use of the air defense systems and increasing survivability of Australia’s tactical aircraft.