Navy seeks new radar-killer missiles
The Navy is conducting market research for an “Advanced Emission Suppression Missile” with extended range that could knock out enemy air defense systems, according to a request for information released Wednesday.
The release of the RFI comes as the U.S. military works to boost its munitions arsenals. The Navy is also looking for new tools capable of degrading adversaries’ sophisticated integrated air defense architectures, such as those possessed by China.
The outreach to industry is also moving forward as the service is planning for a “strategic pause” in procurement of the AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile Extended Range (AARGM-ER) weapon — built by Northrop Grumman — in fiscal 2027, according to budget documents.
According to the RFI, the Navy is “seeking to enhance its capabilities to suppress and neutralize enemy air defenses in contested environments. This effort aims to identify and potentially acquire a weapon system focusing on extended range, advanced targeting, counter-countermeasures, and integration with existing and future platforms.”
The Direct and Time Sensitive Strike Weapons Program Office (PMA-242) is looking to “identify potential sources capable of providing an AARGM-ER equivalent missile system which consists of the All-Up-Round (AUR) missile to include hardware and software, as well as any unique logistics elements, trainers, AARGM-ER equivalent flyout model, and all system verification elements,” per the notice.
The RFI noted that the service is interested in a mature design system at Technology Readiness Level 6-plus that could be integrated onto aircraft carrier-based platforms such as the F-35 Lightning II for both internal and external carriage, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler.
The notice did not specify whether the Navy would want to integrate the missile onto the service’s planned sixth-generation fighter known as F/A-XX. A contract award for F/A-XX, which Boeing and Northrop Grumman are both vying for, could come as early as next month.
Aircraft survivability is a concern for the service. Officials noted that the Advanced Emission Suppression Missile needs to be capable of targeting modern radar systems at “significant standoff distances.” The RFI did not list the specific desired range for the weapon.
The AESM also needs to be equipped with an advanced anti-radiation seeker with broad frequency coverage and be able to integrate “future sensors, effectors, navigation systems, communications systems, and mission processing capabilities with minimal redesign.”
Affordability and producibility are also top of mind as the Navy eyes potential delivery quantities of up to 600 all-up rounds per year, according to the RFI. The service would aim for a 48-month period of performance to complete any needed design and integration work and delivery of the first production lot after contract award.
Industry responses to the RFI are due July 31.
