The U.S. Navy recently conducted two successful back-to-back launches of its Standoff Land Attack Missile - Expanded Response (SLAM-ER). Two direct hits were scored in the fleet training, which was conducted at the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), western test range complex.

Each exercise included two F/A-18C aircraft, and was planned on the Tactical Automated Mission Planning System. The first was a minimum range, low altitude launch. The missile followed the planned profile utilizing low altitude terrain following, and was controlled to a direct hit by a second pilot. The first target was a simulated radar, and the missile approached at a shallow impact angle, demonstrating its 'under the weather' capability.

For the second mission, another F/A-18C team launched the missile at a medium range, and high altitude. The target was a simulated missile launcher, and SLAM-ER again demonstrated its 'under the weather' capability, scoring a direct hit.

To ensure the accuracy of these strikes, each controlling pilot utilized the missile's Stop Motion Aimpoint Update (SMAU) capability. SMAU allows the pilot to momentarily "freeze" the target video image on his display screen and then operate an aimpoint cursor on a steady display to select the target impact point. When the display is "unfrozen" and video motion resumes, the seeker is pointed toward the updated aimpoint. This significantly improves the pilot's ability to select and update target aimpoints up to the final 0.5 nautical mile of the missile's flight.

This firing exercise was the culmination of training provided by the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, Nevada; Strike Fighter Weapons Schools - Atlantic and Pacific; The Boeing Company; and the SLAM-ER fleet interface team.

The SLAM-ER program is managed by the Program Executive Office for Strike Weapons and Unmanned Aviation (PEO (W)). To learn more about PEO (W), log on to the website at www.strikenet.js.mil