DTN News: Boeing SLAM ER Missile System Achieves 2 Launch Milestones

DTN News: Boeing SLAM ER Missile System Achieves 2 Launch Milestones *Source: DTN News / Boeing (NSI News Source Info) ST. LOUIS, - October 1, 2009: The Boeing [NYSE: BA] Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM ER) missile system recently reached two program milestones -- the first launch from an F-16 aircraft and the 100th missile launch. Both flights took place at the U.S. Naval Air Weapons Station in China Lake, Calif. The Boeing Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) team successfully demonstrated its new retargeting capability recently at Point Mugu, Calif. Operating from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis located in the Naval Air Weapons Station Sea Test Range, an F/A-18C Hornet, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 25 (VFA-25), launched a SLAM-ER to destroy a simulated radar site on San Nicolas island, in the Pacific Ocean, used by the U.S. Navy for test and training missions. The SLAM-ER changed direction when the Hornet pilot identified a new target on the island and sent a land midcourse update. Within several miles of the simulated surface-to-air missile site, the SLAM-ER began to transmit real-time video to an S-3B Viking aircrew assigned to Sea Control Squadron 35 (VS-35). The crew utilized the data to pinpoint the new target and destroy it. The 100th launch occurred during a U.S. Navy Air Wing training exercise. The missile was launched from an F/A-18C aircraft and received aimpoint updates from an F/A-18F, striking a simulated command and control building. This milestone includes operational launches as well as those conducted for tests and training. The first SLAM ER launch took place in March 1997. "With these program achievements, SLAM ER continues to prove that it is a very capable and reliable system," said Jim Young, Boeing Harpoon/SLAM ER Weapons program manager. "The launch from the F-16 adds yet another launch platform for SLAM ER, and the 100th launch is proof that the missile consistently performs its missions as designed and provides warfighters a capability they can count on." SLAM ER is a highly adaptable day and night, all-weather, over-the-horizon precision strike missile capable of hitting stationary or moving targets on land or at sea. It can be launched from safe standoff ranges of more than 150 nautical miles and is the Navy’s weapon of choice for surgical strikes against high-value land targets and ships in port and at sea. The missile is fully integrated onto F/A-18A+/C/D/E/F, F-15K, P-3C and S-3B aircraft. It now has been demonstrated on the F-16E/F and is currently being integrated onto P-8A and F-16C/D. A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32 billion business with 70,000 employees worldwide.