SLAM-ER

SLAM-ER

Main Points.

  • Standoff capability against fixed and moving land and sea targets.
  • Precision accuracy
  • Fire-and-forget or mid-course updatable targeting via data link.
  • Retargetable while in flight
  • First standoff strike missile that can hit moving targets.

The Standoff Land Attack Missile-Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) is a highly accurate man-in-the-loop cruise missile. SLAM-ER provides day, night, and adverse weather precision strike capability against high value land and sea targets. Based on the HARPOON missile, the warhead was modified and an infrared sensor system, a data link, and a modified Global Positioning System receiver were added. With the latest software upgrades, the SLAM-ER will have the ability to strike moving targets using real time external target location information.

Against fixed targets the missile can be launched in a fire-and-forget mode, or as a man-in-the-loop weapon utilizing the missile advanced data link. Pilots and controllers view live missile seeker IR video to target impact and can abort or redirect after launch if required. Against moving land or sea targets, SLAM-ER accepts mid-course target updates from currently deployed tracking sources relayed through the controlling F/A-18 aircraft over the missile data link. The missile computes target velocity from the updates and keeps the moving target stabilized within the seeker field of view. SLAM-ER is the first operational standoff missile capable of hitting moving targets.

SLAM-ER is highly adaptable, and can attack relocatable and time-critical targets that have changed position, even after missile launch. Pilots and controllers can perform battle damage assessment on the original target through seeker video, and then choose to flex the missile to a second target miles away from the original target.

SLAM-ER has an operational range greater than 150 nautical miles. It has a 500-lb warhead and is propelled by an air-breathing turbojet engine. SLAM-ER is currently employed on F/A-18, P-3C, and S-3B U.S. aircraft and has been released to several other countries.