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On January 12, 2026, a US Navy F/A-18F successfully launched an Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile Extended Range (AARGM-ER) during a live-fire test at Point Mugu Sea Range, California. This event, conducted by the U.S.

Navy and Northrop Grumman, follows a previous successful launch in December 2025. The test demonstrated the missile's navigation capabilities in a GPS-denied environment and is a critical step toward achieving operational capability later in 2026.

Northrop Grumman is contracted to deliver production units of the AGM-88G AARGM-ER, which enhances the original AGM-88E AARGM missile's capabilities for Suppression and Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD/DEAD). The AARGM-ER features advanced sensors and upgraded propulsion, providing the Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps with enhanced counter-air-defense capabilities.