The State Department approved an FMS to the Netherlands for 265 Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles -Extended Range (AGM-88G) at a cost of $700 million.
The Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) provided the necessary certification, informing Congress of the probable sale.
The Netherlands has sought 265 AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles with Extended Range (AARGM-ER). The anticipated overall cost is $700 million.
The planned sale will help the Netherlands suppress and destroy land or sea-based radar transmitters associated with hostile air defences. This capacity prevents the adversary from using its air defence systems, increasing the survivability of the Netherlands' tactical aircraft. The Netherlands will have no trouble integrating this equipment into its military forces.
The primary contractor will be Northrop Grumman Systems.
The AGM-88G was specially developed to provide a long-range standoff capability, namely an ability to destroy radars outside the range of anti-aircraft systems around the targeted radar. It then makes it possible to blind the anti-aircraft battery using the radar and to create a hole in the enemy anti-aircraft bubble. Thus, in the standoff, this missile allows combat aircraft to destroy the radars of anti-aircraft systems, which can go up to a long range. Conversely, it also offers a stand-in capability to combat aircraft: they can enter the protection bubble of even longer-range systems, such as the S-400.
This anti-radar missile is the latest variant of the AGM-88 HARM but in a completely redesigned, or even boosted, version: its speed is greater than Mach 4, and its range is greater than 300 kilometres. The AARGM-ER fits into the internal bay of the F-35 Lightning II. The Netherlands acquires 46 F-35s, while Poland purchases 32 F-35As.
