Collaborative fields second test aircraft

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MINNEAPOLIS, May 2 (UPI) -- A second Beechcraft King Air test aircraft has been fielded for the advanced anti-radiation guided missile in a U.S. Navy-Italian air force initiative.

AARGM was developed for the Italian air force through a collaborative with Alliant Techsystems, the U.S. Navy, the Italian air force, and Vitrociset. Officials say the second AARGM test aircraft, identical to the first King Air test aircraft operating for the past several years on U.S. ranges, is expected to be delivered to Italy for testing against threat-representative targets at the Italian Test Range in Sardinia.

AARGM sensors include an advanced anti-radiation detection, tracking, and location systems among other technologies developed for lethal destruction of enemy air defense capability for United States and Italian war fighters.

"This is a great day for the AARGM cooperative development program," Capt. Giorgio Dessi, the Italian air force representative at the U.S. Navy-Italian air force AARGM program management integrated product team, said in a statement.

"This key asset will serve to optimize AARGM lethality against ground-based air defense targets, and it is another big achievement that demonstrates the successful cooperation in this great program. I look forward to the aircraft's delivery to Italy."