US Arms Poland & Netherlands With AARGM-ER Anti-Radiation Missile

By Olawale Abaire, Warrior Contributor

The Netherlands and Poland are set to receive the AGM-88G AARGM-ER (Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile – Extended Range), marking their first foray into anti-radiation weaponry. This acquisition significantly enhances their ability to execute Suppression/Destruction of Enemy Air Defense; that is, the SEAD/DEAD missions.

The U.S. State Department has greenlit the potential Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of the new AGM-88G AARGM-ER to these nations. Despite being operators of the F-16, neither country had previously procured the AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM).

This paradigm shifted with the advent of the F-35A Lightning II, an aircraft that highly emphasizes SEAD/DEAD missions as part of its operational mandate. The Netherlands is set to receive 265 AGM-88G missiles, while Poland will get 360 missiles. Each country will also receive eight space guidance and spare control sections.

The AGM-88G AARGM-ER is designed to be employed by the F/A-18, E/A-18G, and F-35 to passively detect and guide radio frequency emissions from a radar site and then transition to an active millimeter wave terminal radar to detect, track, degrade, and destroy radio frequency-enabled, surface-to-air missile systems. This missile introduces a larger diameter but shorter rocket motor for increased range, F-35A and F-35C internal weapons bay fitment, and a new warhead.

According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notice, the proposed sales will bolster the Netherlands’ and Poland’s capabilities to counter current and future threats by suppressing and destroying land or sea-land-based radar emitters linked with enemy air defenses. This capability effectively neutralizes the adversary’s air defense systems, enhancing allied tactical aircraft’s survivability.

The FMS of the AARGM-ER to the Netherlands and Poland followed similar sales to Australia and Finland last year, who requested 63 and 150 missiles, respectively. While the Netherlands, Poland, and Finland would only deploy the AGM-88G on the F-35A, Australia can employ the new missile on its F/A-18F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers.