Submitted by the PEO (CU) Public Affairs Office

A Standoff Land Attack Missile-Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) made a direct strike earlier this month on the former USS DALE (CG 19), a decommissioned Leahy Class Cruiser at the Atlantic Fleet Weapons Training Facility ranges out of Naval Station Roosevelt Roads (NSRR), Puerto Rico.

The live fire mission was conducted as part of the DD-21 Weapons Effect Test (WET). The WET program is designed to help the Navy and naval shipbuilders design ships with increased survivability against anti-ship missile attacks. This test involved two separate events. The first in December followed by a key event in January.

On December 17, a 500 lb. WDU-40 SLAM-ER warhead was detonated in the aft portion of the ship. The DALE was located on the South Range, approximately 75 miles south of Roosevelt Roads.

Then on January 13, F/A-18 pilots fired a tactical SLAM-ER and made a direct hit into the forward portion of the ship. SLAM-ER was chosen because of the missile's ability to precisely hit a pre-determined aimpoint on the ship. This event was off the North Range, approximately 160 miles north of Roosevelt Roads. For both tests, over 180 sensors were placed throughout the ship to measure the level of damage inflicted on the ship.

The missile was launched and controlled by Lt. Russ "Beacon" McCormack. Lt. Keith "Squishy" Henry and Lt. Scott "Squeeze" Topple flew in a second F/A-18 with a backup missile. All F/A-18 pilots were from the Weapons Test Squadron at the Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division, Pt. Mugu, California. Mid-course updates of the target ship location were transmitted to the missile while it was in flight. This SLAM-ER capability allows it to engage moving targets from long standoff ranges. SLAM-ER transmits infrared imagery that allows the pilots to lock-on the seeker.

After the test, DALE was cleared for tow back to NSRR by Naval Sea Systems Command, Salvage representatives. Once at NSRR the damaged area of the ship will be thoroughly studied and documented.

Video clips are available and photos are forthcoming.

The SLAM-ER program is managed by the Program Executive Office for Cruise Missiles and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (PEO (CU)). To learn more about PEO (CU), log on to the Web site at www.peocu.js.mil

For further information contact:

Cathy Partusch, Public Affairs Officer, PEO (CU)

Voice: (301) 757-6316 Pager: (888) 534-6628

E-mail: [email protected]

Sandy Schroeder, Deputy Public Affairs Officer, PEO (CU)

Voice: (301) 757-5289

E-mail: [email protected]