Released by the NAWC Weapons Division China Lake Public Affairs Office--The Oct. 5 rollout of the 500th successful Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) warhead by the NAWC Weapons Division China Lake Propulsion Laboratories (CLPL) marks a significant milestone for the NAVAIR team.

The Precision Strike Weapons Program Office (PMA-201) provides loaded titanium warheads through NAWCWD as government-furnished equipment to the Boeing Company for SLAM-ER production missiles. Development of the lining and loading processes began at the plant in 1995 in partnership with industry, and this teaming relationship resulted in benefits to the program and warfighters early in the program through reduced transition time to production, lower cost, and reduced risk.

As the program has matured, the China Lake Propellants and Explosives Processing Branch has maintained teaming relationships with Boeing and General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, the titanium warhead case supplier, in order to ensure consistent quality.

To date, all five hundred warheads have been delivered on schedule, within budget, and without a single significant quality defect, further testifying to NAVAIR’s in-house expertise and commitment to delivering weapons to the Fleet efficiently and at the lowest cost possible.
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Photo Cutline: Dr. Karen Higgins, NAWC Weapons Division Executive Director, discusses the development of the Standoff Land Attack Missile (Expanded Response) at the China Lake 500th Rollout ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 5. Photo by Greg Turnbaugh