On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, the State Treasury – Armament Agency, on behalf of the Polish Ministry of National Defense, signed an intergovernmental agreement with the United States under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) procedure for the delivery of over 200 AGM-88G AARGM-ER (Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile-Extended Range) air-launched anti-radiation missiles, manufactured by Northrop Grumman. The contract is valued at approximately 745 million USD net (2.999 billion PLN net/3.689 billion gross). Deliveries are scheduled to take place between 2029 and 2035.
Photos and graphics: Polish Ministry of National Defense
The purchase of AGM-88G missiles stems from the need to provide the Air Force with the capability to counter enemy radar systems, as well as air defense and missile defense systems, while also maintaining air superiority and ensuring the operational security of Polish military aviation.
“To be fully operationally prepared for any scenario and to achieve the highest level of interoperability, we must invest in the best equipment. We must invest in weaponry that is proven, that has the highest quality and effectiveness certifications. The range of the missiles we are purchasing today exceeds 200 kilometers. Deliveries will take place from 2021 to 2035. This is a modern version of anti-radiation missiles that can target enemy radars as well as air and missile defense systems. This acquisition provides the capabilities that the Polish Armed Forces simply need,” said Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz after signing the contract for the Air Force armament deliveries.
“With the approval of the United States government, we are acquiring anti-radiation missiles that detect, locate, target, and engage enemy air defense, anti-aircraft, and missile defense systems. This is a groundbreaking purchase. Only with fully equipped F-35 aircraft, with the potential for adaptation to F-16s as well, can we effectively utilize the full capabilities of these state-of-the-art machines that will be in service with the Polish Armed Forces (…). Today’s agreement represents a significant advancement in operational capabilities, the full utilization of the Polish Air Force’s potential, and the proper integration of F-35 aircraft. Because an aircraft, even the best one, without the right armament, does not provide superiority, strength, or effectiveness,” said Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz.
On April 24, 2024, Poland received approval to purchase up to 360 missiles as part of a package worth up to 1.275 billion USD (then 5.13 billion PLN). The missiles will be integrated with the F-35A Husarz multirole aircraft, which will also be equipped with AGM-158B-2 JASSM-ER extended-range cruise missiles, AIM-9X Tactical Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles, and AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles. Additionally, the Armament Agency is analyzing the market for potential anti-ship missiles for these aircraft. Optionally, F-16 Jastrząb aircraft may also be integrated with those missiles.
Earlier, on May 4, 2016, the then Armament Inspectorate of the Ministry of National Defense (now the Armament Agency) initiated the analytical and conceptual phase and market research for acquiring missiles capable of homing in on electromagnetic radiation sources (ARM), specifically targeting air defense elements. At that time, the only platform available for their integration was the F-16C/D Block 52+ aircraft with M6.5 software.
In September 2018, the Ministry of National Defense decided to submit a request to the U.S. government to initiate the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) procedure for the purchase of AGM-88E AARGM missiles, as well as the AARGM-ER variant.
The AARGM-ER is designed for operations aimed at penetrating enemy air defenses (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses, SEAD). It is capable of striking anti-aircraft and missile defense systems, ballistic and cruise missile launchers, GPS jamming systems, and anti-satellite systems in highly contested environments saturated with such enemy defenses (anti-access/area-denial, A2/AD).
Compared to the baseline AGM-88E AARGM, the AGM-88G AARGM-ER features a new airframe with a diameter of 290 mm and a ramjet engine with a subsonic combustion chamber, which has doubled its range from 110 km to approximately 220–250 km, as well as increasing its maximum speed.
The missiles are manufactured with a new propulsion system and an enhanced warhead, based on newly produced guidance systems consisting of a passive radar signal receiver, a satellite and inertial navigation system, and a millimeter-wave radar. This differs from the AGM-88E AARGM, where the propulsion system and warhead were sourced from stored previous-generation AGM-88 HARM (High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile) missiles.
In addition to the U.S. Navy and Poland, Australia has also decided to purchase the AGM-88G AARGM-ER (63 missiles in the first batch and 100 in the second), as well as Finland (150 missiles). Meanwhile, alongside Poland, the Netherlands has received approval to purchase 265 missiles.