Italian Air Force has tested the AARGM (Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile) missile for the first time during 'Blazing Shield 2018' exercise on 2 April in China Lake in America. The missile was launched by a Tornado ECR aircraft with successful results. 

The main goal of “Blazing Shield” is the Operational Test & Evaluation (OT&E) of the Tornado ECR with the new AGM-88E AARGM. The exercise also aimed to validate the tactical-operating procedures, in the field of self-protection, of the Eurofighter Typhoon and C27J Spartan systems. 

Developed under a US Navy and Italian joint acquisition programme, the AARGM features new software, improved ability to geo-locate and a multi-mode seeker that embeds a passive radar and an active millimeter wave seekers.