Submitted by the PEO (CU) Public Affairs Office

Two Standoff Land Attack Missiles (SLAM) were successfully launched in December as a culmination of rigorous training for fleet aircrew.

Aircrew from two FA-18C squadrons, Strike Fighter Squadron One One Five (VFA-115) attached to Carrier Air Wing Fourteen, and Strike Fighter Squadron One Nine Five (VFA-195) attached to Carrier Air Wing Five out of Japan, completed the training mission. Both missiles were launched against the target complex on San Nicolas Island, located on the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) Sea Test Range, Point Mugu, Calif.

The strike was planned and performed in two waves. In the first wave, Eagle 21, piloted by Lt. Jeffrey "Hilda" Brunn of VFA-195, launched the SLAM and was backup controller while Eagle 22, piloted by Lt. Andy "Leno" Pulley of VFA-195, controlled the missile to impact. Eagle 23, piloted by Lt. Cmdr. Paul "Smack" Mackley of VFA-115, flew chase and performed tertiary control duties. All three aircraft returned to Naval Air Station, Point Mugu to refuel and change aircrew.

In the second wave, Eagle 32, piloted by Lt. Ray "Cleetus" Dumont, launched and provided backup control for the SLAM while Eagle 31, piloted by Lt. Rick "Gimp" Beasley, controlled the SLAM to impact. Eagle 33, piloted by Lt. Cmdr. Greg "Hyfi" Harris flew chase and performed tertiary control duties. All three pilots were from VFA-115.

Lt. Keith "Squishy" Henry was airborne during both waves, flying a Naval Weapons Test Squadron China Lake FA-18C, and acted as mission commander and safety observer during the missile firing exercise. The 146th Air Refueling Squadron of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard based out of Pittsburgh, Penn. provided a tanker for the missile firing exercise.

The training program was provided by the SLAM Tiger Team, consisting of Weapons Systems Evaluation Division personnel from the NAWCWD Point Mugu, and led by Lt. Henry. Training consisted of classroom briefings on the weapon system, hands-on tactics and scenario development on the Tactical Automated Mission Planning System, ground checks with SLAM missiles and AWW-13 data link pods loaded on VFA-115 aircraft, and numerous captive carry flights in the China Lake airspace.

Capt. A.J. Benn, SLAM program manager, summed up the training mission by saying, "we can be proud in knowing that the Fleet is well trained and will be successful in their employment of SLAM, should they be required to do so."

To learn more about the Program Executive Office, Cruise Missiles and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, log on to our Web site at www.peocu.js.mil.

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