AARGM / VFDR Missiles

[bring_it_on]

Courtesy James Drew

 

[marauder2048]

OATK's AARGM-ER fact sheet.

 

[bring_it_on]

Orbital ATK's ER solution features a number of design changes to the existing AARGM configuration and leverages what Mike Stuart, Orbital ATK's director of missiles strategy, business development and marketing, characterises as "higher technical readiness level (TRL) subcomponents with reduced risk, to accelerate the timeline to the US Navy customer".

"From our design concept perspective, we took a look at the threats, we took a look at, most importantly, the ranges that we thought were going to be needed, and then we wanted to bring in technology associated with achieving those goals, that were higher TRL," Stuart told Jane's .

The Orbital ATK design introduces an aft actuator control system with the mid-body wings on the legacy AARGM removed. This not only enables a form fit capability internal to the F-35 but also improves manoeuvrability and reduces drag, Stuart said. The company has introduced side-body strakes that deliver lift during the missile's flight.

To assist the required range increment, the existing mid-body control section componentry is repackaged to deliver additional space for propulsion, while the airframe is tapered up from aft of the seeker section to deliver an approximate 10% increase in diameter, with consequent additional volume for propulsion.

Stuart said the company is evaluating multiple sources for the aft actuator solution and also for the new rocket motor design that, Jane's understands, is expected to deliver an engagement speed that is double that of the current AARGM. "Our assessment is that there are propulsion options out there that are high TRL and can quickly transition into a production scenario to meet the USN's timelines," he said.

While the propulsion type has yet to be decided, a ramjet solution has not been discounted. "The current Orbital ATK design concept is not a ramjet, but it certainly doesn't remove that potential. However, it will be the USN and its requirements office that make the final decision on where they want to go with propulsion," he said.

'Increased Survivability' is built into the AARGM ER requirement, although Stuart declined to comment on the specifics of the Orbital ATK solution, noting only that "speed is in the equation. We're going double the range in about the same amount of time, and you have to increase speed to achieve that; so speed in and of itself is an improvement to survivability. There are other aspects of our design solution that improve survivability, but these are not releasable".

Janes | Latest defence and security news

Janes | The latest defence and security news from Janes - the trusted source for defence intelligence

www.janes.com

 

[sferrin]

If they expect to ever put it into service, and fit in an F-35, it'll have to be a rocket.

 

[bring_it_on]

The Fiscal Year 2018 President's Budget requests $6.4 million of RDT&E,N for High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) and AARGM Foreign Material Assessment; $15.2M for AARGM to implement M Code, transition receiver upgrade from ONR efforts and Block 1 follow-on development; $66.3 million of RDT&E,N for AARGM Extended Range (AARGM-ER) development; and $183.4 million of WPN for production of AARGM modification kits for 251 All-Up-Rounds and Captive Training Missiles. The AARGM cooperative program with the Italian Air Force transforms the HARM into an affordable, lethal, and flexible time-sensitive strike weapon system for conducting Destruction of Enemy Air Defense missions. AARGM adds multi-spectral targeting capability and targeting geospecificity to its supersonic fly-out to destroy sophisticated enemy air defenses and expands upon the HARM target set. The program achieved IOC on the F/A-18C/D aircraft in July 2012, with forward deployment to PACOM; integration is complete for AARGM with release of H-8 System Configuration Set for F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft. The AARGM Block 1 software only update will achieve IOC the third quarter of FY 2017. The AARGM-ER modification program, involving hardware and software improvements, began in Fiscal Year 2016. This effort will increase the weapon system's survivability against complex and emerging threat systems and affords greater stand-off range for the launch platform. AARGM-ER will be designed to fit internally in both the F-35A and F-35C, thereby increasing the capability and lethality of the Lightening II weapon system. House Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces Hearing - Combat Aviation Modernization Programs and the FY2018 Budget Request

 

[bring_it_on]

...

 

[sferrin]

...

Looks like they already dumbed down the ATK concept and lost the strakes and other aero optimizations. :'(

 

[bring_it_on]

It's a notional illustration. Propulsion and missile body design will be picked out of those submitted by Orbital ATK and others.

 

[bring_it_on]

...

 

[sferrin]

It's a notional illustration. Propulsion and missile body design will be picked out of those submitted by Orbital ATK and others.

Hopefully they don't cheap out and go the "least risk and cheapest" option.

 

[bring_it_on]

Some good HARM/AARGM footage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixRhS7ospI0

 

[bring_it_on]

All ATK AARGM models to be made in Poland

https://youtu.be/UZGi5xh6RCA?t=155

 

[bobbymike]

https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2017/11/28/Orbital-ATK-to-support-next-step-development-of-anti-radiation-missiles/5041511873597/?utm_source=sec&utm_campaign=sl&utm_medium=3

 

[bring_it_on]

Orbital ATK Contracted by U.S. Navy for Development of an Extended Range Upgrade to the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile

Dulles, Virginia 24 January 2018 – Orbital ATK (NYSE: OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies, was awarded a developmental contract by the U.S. Navy for the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile-Extended Range (AARGM-ER) upgrade. The contract will mature the AARGM-ER configuration resulting in a preliminary design prior to entry into the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase.

The AGM-88E AARGM, currently in Full Rate Production, is a supersonic, air-launched tactical missile system that upgrades legacy AGM-88 High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile systems with advanced capability to perform Destruction of Enemy Air Defense missions. The AARGM-ER incorporates additional upgrades to improve operational capability including extended range and survivability. The AARGM-ER integrates existing AGM-88E AARGM sensors and electronics with an upgraded rocket motor and tail control system. The AARGM-ER will be compatible with the F/A-18E/F, EA-18G and F-35 with internal weapon’s bay-carriage.

“This contract is a major step in Orbital ATK’s ongoing commitment to advancing AARGM’s counter-air defense capability for the U.S. Navy,” said Cary Ralston, Vice President and General Manager of Orbital ATK’s Defense Electronic Systems division of the Defense Systems Group. “We are committed to increasing the effectiveness of the warfighter to suppress and destroy enemy air defense threats while remaining safe.”

The AGM-88E AARGM is currently deployed and supporting operational requirements for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. The missile is employed on the F/A-18C/D Hornet, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft.

Work for the AARGM-ER contract will be performed at Orbital ATK’s facilities in Northridge and Ridgecrest, California.

Orbital ATK’s Defense Systems Group is an industry leader in providing innovative and affordable precision and strike weapons, advanced propulsion and hypersonics, missile components across air-, sea- and land-based systems, ammunition and related energetic products.

 

[marauder2048]

So are they still competing the propulsion stack upgrade?

 

[SpudmanWP]

"upgraded rocket motor and tail control system" seems to indicate that they are going with the ATK design.

 

[sferrin]

"upgraded rocket motor and tail control system" seems to indicate that they are going with the ATK design.

Sounds like it but I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[marauder2048]

"upgraded rocket motor and tail control system" seems to indicate that they are going with the ATK design.

From what I can tell, it was sole-sourced.

 

[bring_it_on]

FY 2019 Base Plans:

FY 2019 activities include completion of the Missile Section Integration contract and contract award for the
Engineering & Manufacturing Development phase to include procurement of test articles. Continue range safety
analysis for telemetry section Flight Termination System development. Funding supports upgrading capability
to process and target non-traditional and advanced signals. This includes weapon system developmental
activities, range and laboratory support and analysis.


FY 2018 to FY 2019 Increase/Decrease Statement:
FY2019 increase due to execution and completion of the Missile Section Integration contract and award of the
Engineering and Manufacturing Development contract to include development of fifteen AARGM-ER test articles

 

[bring_it_on]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMdnDCEvA1c

 

[bring_it_on]

Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, Northridge, California, is awarded a $322,504,595 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract to provide for the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) of the AGM-88G, Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile – Extended Range (AARGM-ER). The EMD effort includes the design, integration and test of a new solid rocket motor for the AARGM-ER for use on the F/A-18E/F, EA-18G and F-35A/C aircraft platforms. Work will be performed in Northridge, California (98 percent); and Ridgecrest, California (2 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2023. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $55,087,929 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-19-C-0050).

Contracts for March 7, 2019

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCYTactical & Survival Specialties,* Harrisonburg, Virginia (SPE8EJ-19-D-0001); W.S. Darley & Co.,* Itasca, Illinois (SPE8EJ-19-D-0002); Atlantic Diving Supply Inc.,* doing

dod.defense.gov

 

[marauder2048]

This contract was not competitively procured pursuant Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1.

:'(

 

[sferrin]

Why the tears? Did they kill the 11.5" dia. rocket motor?

 

[TomS]

Why the tears? Did they kill the 11.5" dia. rocket motor?

Probably that the SEAD Roadmap said AARGM-ER would be a full and open competition but they actually awarded it sole-source to NG (who just bought Orbital ATK).

 

[sferrin]

Why the tears? Did they kill the 11.5" dia. rocket motor?

Probably that the SEAD Roadmap said AARGM-ER would be a full and open competition but they actually awarded it sole-source to NG (who just bought Orbital ATK).

I'm all for open competition when it makes sense. What would it get you here though?

 

[TomS]

Why the tears? Did they kill the 11.5" dia. rocket motor?

Probably that the SEAD Roadmap said AARGM-ER would be a full and open competition but they actually awarded it sole-source to NG (who just bought Orbital ATK).

I'm all for open competition when it makes sense. What would it get you here though?

I'll leave that one for Marauder to answer.

 

[marauder2048]

Why the tears? Did they kill the 11.5" dia. rocket motor?

Probably that the SEAD Roadmap said AARGM-ER would be a full and open competition but they actually awarded it sole-source to NG (who just bought Orbital ATK).

I'm all for open competition when it makes sense. What would it get you here though?

The VFDR stack from T3; it was at the requisite level of maturity. That the IOC date has now slipped two years undermines
the argument they could get a range bump with the enlarged SRM earlier than the VFDR.

 

[sferrin]

Why the tears? Did they kill the 11.5" dia. rocket motor?

Probably that the SEAD Roadmap said AARGM-ER would be a full and open competition but they actually awarded it sole-source to NG (who just bought Orbital ATK).

I'm all for open competition when it makes sense. What would it get you here though?

The VFDR stack from T3; it was at the requisite level of maturity. That the IOC date has now slipped two years undermines
the argument they could get a range bump with the enlarged SRM earlier than the VFDR.

T3? Is that this guy?

I wouldn't be surprised if the rocket was faster and longer ranged. 11.5" is a big motor.

 

[marauder2048]

If end-burning, highly-loaded grain designs really do provide what KTA + Orbital ATK are claiming then
maybe in conjunction with the cost/complexity argument it makes sense.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58EaDU76eFc

 

[TomS]

The VFDR stack from T3; it was at the requisite level of maturity. That the IOC date has now slipped two years undermines
the argument they could get a range bump with the enlarged SRM earlier than the VFDR.

Would the VFDR fit internally in the F-35? Isn't that a requirement for AARGM-ER? Or am I mistaken?

 

[bring_it_on]

Given it was supposed to work on the F-22 and F-35 as a future BVRAAM why would you think that a design leveraging that propulsion option wouldn't be compliant with the F-35?

 

[sferrin]

If end-burning, highly-loaded grain designs really do provide what KTA + Orbital ATK are claiming then
maybe in conjunction with the cost/complexity argument it makes sense.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58EaDU76eFc

I find it hard to believe that motor is an end-burner given it only fired for about 10 seconds. (Unless they've found a way to REALLY increase the burn rate, but then what does that do to the ISP?)

 

[sferrin]

another pic.

 

[TomS]

Given it was supposed to work on the F-22 and F-35 as a future BVRAAM why would you think that a design leveraging that propulsion option wouldn't be compliant with the F-35?

It was a sincere question. I honestly don't know enough about that VFDR stack to know its origins or what aircraft it was designed to fit. There were older airbreathing HARM/AARGM concepts that probably would not have fit.

 

[bring_it_on]

USAF is going to utilize the Navy's AARGM-ER program to develop its Stand-In-Attack-Weapon which was a FY18 new start IIRC. Last year the B-21 was also mentioned as a candidate platform..

The SiAW adds a universal armament interface, a new warhead and fuze combination and integration on Lockheed Martin’s single-engined stealth fighter, Air Force budget documents show.
The Air Force has budgeted $860 million to spend between fiscal 2018 and 2024 on research and development for the SiAW program. Over the same period, the Navy’s AARGM-ER program office is contributing $443 million to the development phase.

https://aviationweek.com/defense/usaf-plans-adapt-aargm-er-f-35a-mission

 

[bring_it_on]

This contract was not competitively procured pursuant Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1.

:'(

...

 

[SpudmanWP]

lol, They even redacted the date on the signature form.

btw, AARGM-ER is getting the UAI treatment (per FY2020 budget docs) along with Spear3, JASSM-ER, JSM, and SOM-J (Turkish internal "JSM" clone).

 

[bring_it_on]

Yeah, as per the budget materials above the SiAW development is going to cover UAI, and also a new warhead..

Germany is all set ot become the next AARGM operator with a pre-solicitation out to integrate it with their Tornado fleet. It would be interesting to see if the missile (AARGM or ER) is eventually also integrated into to the Typhoon.

--------------

Stand In Attack Weapon (SiAW) system will provide strike capability to defeat rapidly relocatable targets that create the Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) environment.
The target environment includes Theater Ballistic Missile Launchers, Land Attack and Anti-Ship Cruise Missile Launchers, GPS Jammers, Anti-Satellite Systems,
and Integrated Air Defense Systems. Key attributes of the Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW) will include Lethality, Responsiveness, Survivability, Range, and Internal
Carriage. The F-35 is the Air Force threshold platform. The path to the SiAW capability is through the Navy Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile-Extended Range
(AARGM-ER) program with additions to the Universal Armament Interface (UAI), Warhead/Fuze, and Integration on the F-35. SiAW was a FY18 new start. New start
activities initiated program stand-up, facility upgrades, program office support, and other analysis support to include UAI, Mission Planning, Test Planning and Range
Infrastructure requirements, and future test and integration on the F-35.

 

[marauder2048]

This contract was not competitively procured pursuant Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1.

:'(

...

Pretty feeble justification.

The SBIR data rights issue: ordinarily, after 5 years they would revert to unlimited rights for the government but because
the Navy keeps feeding OATK/NG under the SBIR Phase III contract it keeps resetting the expiration period.

The propulsion section justification boils down to: the Navy thinks it's too hard to manage the contract.

 

[Ronny]

New Missile Prepares for F-35 Tests

20 Feb 2020 Rachel S. Cohen


"The Air Force is moving forward with its Stand-In Attack Weapon, preparing to check how it fits inside the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter this summer. Though the service previously said the missile would fly on the B-21 as well, Air Force spokeswoman Ilka Cole said recently the F-35 is now the only USAF aircraft under consideration. Fit checks will entail wind tunnel testing and ground tests.


The weapon is based on the extended-range version of the Navy’s Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile in development at Northrop Grumman. Cole said missile design specifications like its range are classified....


...“SiAW targets include theater ballistic missile launchers, land attack and anti-ship cruise missile launchers, GPS jammers, anti-satellite systems, and integrated air defense systems,” according to Air Force budget documents...


...The baseline version [AARGM] is already integrated onto the F-35. Military testers will vet the SiAW on the F-35 in the early 2020s so it can begin regular operations by the mid-2020s. It’s expected to wield a new warhead, the design of which is slated to end in fiscal 2021.


The Air Force created the program in 2018 and requested $160.4 million for SiAW development in its 2021 budget, ramping up to $364.5 million in 2025. The request did not say how much the weapon will cost in total."

New Missile Prepares for F-35 Tests | Air & Space Forces Magazine

The Air Force is moving forward with its Stand-In Attack Weapon, preparing to check how it fits inside the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter this summer.

www.airforcemag.com