. Military Space News .
Boeing SLAM ER Modified To Engage Moving Targets On Land

The missile's "man-in-the-loop" mode allows the pilot to precisely update the target impact point during the missile's final moments of flight.
by Staff Writers
St. Louis MO (SPX) Aug 26, 2009
Boeing has modified the Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM ER) to engage land-based moving targets (LMT). The U.S. Navy declared the missile system, with its enhanced targeting software, operationally effective against LMTs on July 2 following a successful Operational Evaluation.

"Upgrading SLAM ER with the land-based moving target function adds a key capability to the warfighter's arsenal," said Steve Morrow, Boeing director of Naval Weapon Programs.

"We look forward to helping the Navy train the fleet to use this new capability."

Upgrading the SLAM ER's system software to include LMT capabilities was a Navy Rapid Technology Transition effort to fill a critical need by making SLAM ER an effective weapon for destroying or disabling high-value land-based moving targets, such as missile launchers and mobile radar.

The software enables F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet aircraft to continuously receive updated target coordinates from appropriate Command and Control platforms, on-ship radar, or other third-party targeting sources, and then transfer these updates to the SLAM ER in flight.

A four-part series of developmental and operational flight tests demonstrated the system's network-centric ability to use third-party targeting. During its final test flight in January, SLAM ER scored a direct hit against a remote-controlled, land-based moving target.

Previous test flights included an operational test launch, also in January, and engagement with remote-controlled mobile targets in 2006.

SLAM ER is a highly adaptable day/night, all-weather, over-the-horizon precision strike missile capable of hitting stationary or moving targets on land or at sea and can be launched from safe standoff ranges of more than 150 nautical miles. It is a Navy weapon of choice for surgical strikes against high-value land targets and ships in port and at sea.

The missile's "man-in-the-loop" mode allows the pilot to precisely update the target impact point during the missile's final moments of flight.

Share This Article With Planet Earth
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit
YahooMyWebYahooMyWeb GoogleGoogle FacebookFacebook



Related Links
Boeing Integrated Defense Systems
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


Raytheon Delivers 1000th Evolved SeaSparrow Missile
East Camden AR (SPX) Aug 26, 2009
Raytheon delivered the 1000th Evolved SeaSparrow Missile to a multinational consortium during a ceremony at the Raytheon Missile Systems Weapon Integration Center - Camden. Deployed by the U.S. Navy and nine international fleets, ESSM defends the battlespace by delivering ship self-defense firepower against high-G maneuvering anti-ship cruise missiles as well as surface and low-velocity ... read more







The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2009 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement