Ignition of $NH_3-O_2-Ar$ mixtures have been studied behind reflected shock waves over the temperature range of 1600-2300 K and the pressures in the range of 1.1-1.6 atm. The pressure profile and the radiation emitted behind the shock waves have been monitored to give empirical correlations between ignition delay times and the mixture concentrations with the experimental conditions. On the basis of this data, several kinetic mechanisms proposed for ammonia oxidation at high temperatures have been tested. The ignition delay times obtained from the mechanism proposed by Miller and Smook were in good agreement with our experimental results.