At ADEX 2025 in Seoul, Northrop Grumman unveiled the Advanced Reactive Strike (AReS) launcher — a modular, containerized missile system designed to neutralize enemy radar networks and air defenses through rapid precision strikes.
Built around the AARGM-ER (Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile – Extended Range), AReS repurposes the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps’ proven air-launched SEAD missile for ground and surface operations. The system reflects the Pentagon’s push toward agile, survivable, and dispersed strike capabilities in contested environments.
The displayed model resembled a standard 20- or 40-foot ISO container concealing a four-cell vertical launcher. This configuration allows AReS to be transported by trucks, deployed on ships, or pre-positioned at forward bases, blending seamlessly into civilian logistics infrastructure. Once positioned, it can elevate and fire within minutes — ideal for time-sensitive counter-radar or infrastructure strikes inside A2/AD zones.
The AARGM-ER missile features a dual-mode seeker, combining passive radar homing with active millimeter-wave radar for precise engagement. Originally launched from tactical aircraft such as the F/A-18 and F-35, it has been reengineered for cold launch, containerized ejection, and integration with ground-based C2 networks. U.S. test programs indicate operational assessment beginning in early 2026.
With a range exceeding 300 km, AReS can deliver long-range, high-speed precision strikes while remaining mobile and difficult to detect. A Northrop Grumman spokesperson described it as “a force equalizer that turns logistics assets into launch nodes.”
In parallel, South Korea is developing its own containerized system, informally known as K-ARM, aimed at radar suppression and deep-strike missions. Sources within the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) suggest the K-ARM will incorporate indigenous seekers and guidance systems, possibly derived from the Cheongung-II or Hyunmoo platforms.
Defense analysts see both AReS and K-ARM as part of a broader shift toward “launch-anywhere” missile doctrine, where mobility, concealment, and distributed operations define next-generation deterrence. Containerized systems blur the line between logistics and firepower — offering flexible, survivable strike options for modern battlefields.
Export prospects are strong. Northrop Grumman is already marketing AReS to select Indo-Pacific and Eastern European allies, while K-ARM could position South Korea as a new supplier of advanced strike capabilities in Asia. Both systems are expected to achieve early operational capability between 2026 and 2027.
What ADEX 2025 ultimately demonstrated is clear: containerized missile systems are moving from concept to cornerstone — becoming central to 21st-century strike and deterrence architectures.
