AGM-84 SLAM-ER (Standoff Land Attack Missile - Expanded Response) | |
---|---|
An F/A-18 Hornet carrying one SLAM-ER missile (top) and two AN/AWW-13 datalink pods (bottom) | |
Type | Long-range, air-launched, precision cruise missile |
Place of origin | United States |
Service history | |
In service | 2000 – present[1] |
Used by | United States and its allies |
Wars |
Iraq War Operation Enduring Freedom |
Production history | |
Manufacturer | The Boeing Company[1] |
Unit cost | $500,000[1] |
Variants |
AGM-84H (2000–2002)[2] AGM-84K (2002 - present) |
Specifications | |
Mass | 674.5 kg (1,487 lb)[1] |
Length | 4.36 m (14.3 ft)[1] |
Diameter | 34.3 cm (13.5 in)[1] |
| |
Engine |
Teledyne Turbojet > 600 lbs thrust |
Wingspan | 2.2 m (7.2 ft)[1] |
Operational range | 270 kilometres (170 mi)[3] |
Maximum speed | 855 km/h (531 mph, 0.698 mach)[3] |
Guidance system |
inertial navigation system supplemented by the Global Positioning System (GPS)[1] infrared terminal guidance[1] data link to controling aircraft[1] Automatic Target Acquisition (ATA)[2] |
Launch platform |
F/A-18C/D Hornet[1] F/A-18E/F Super Hornet[1] P-3C Orion[1] P-8 Poseidon [1] and allied air forces, including the South Korean Air Force and the Turkish Air Force |
The AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER (Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response) is a precision-guided, air-launched cruise missile produced by Boeing Defense, Space & Security for the United States Armed Forces and their allies. Developed from the AGM-84E SLAM (Standoff Land Attack Missile), the SLAM-ER is capable of attacking land and sea targets at medium-to-long-ranges (155 nautical miles/250 km maximum). The SLAM-ER relies on the Global Positioning System (GPS) and infrared imaging for its navigation and control, and it can strike both moving and stationary targets. The SLAM-ER, can be remotely-controlled while in flight, and it can be redirected to another target after launch if the original target has already been destroyed, or is no longer considered to be dangerous.[1][4] The SLAM-ER is a very accurate weapon, with the best circular error probable (CEP) of any missile used by the U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps.[1] The SLAM-ER obtained initial operating capability in June 2000. A total of three SLAM-ER missiles were fired by the U.S. Navy during the Iraq War,[5] and the missile was also used during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
The General Electric Company provides an Automatic Target Recognition Unit (ATRU) for the SLAM-ER[6] that processes prelaunch and postlaunch targeting data, allows high speed video comparison, and enables the SLAM-ER to be used in a true "fire and forget" manner. It also includes a "man-in-the-loop" mode, where the pilot or weapons system office can designate the point of impact precisely, even if the target has no distinguishing infrared signature.[4] It can be launched and controlled by a variety of aircraft including the F/A-18 Hornet, F/A-18 Super Hornet, and P-3C Orion, as well as by the U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle. Before the retirement of the S-3B Viking, it was also able to launch and control the SLAM-ER, and it is anticipated that the U.S. Navy's new land-based patrol plane, the Boeing P-8 Poseidon will carry the SLAM-ER as well.[4] The South Korean Air Force's version of the F-15E Strike Eagle, the F-15K Slam Eagle, has been capable of launching and controlling the SLAM-ER since 2006 in test exercises.[7]
Users[]
- Saudi Arabia[8]
- South Korea[9]
- Turkey[10]
- United Arab Emirates[8]
- United States
References[]
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Parsch, Andreas. "AGM/RGM/UGM-84." Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles. 2008. Web. 22 July 2013.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "AGM-84 Harpoon / SLAM [Stand-Off Land Attack Missile]." Military Analysis Network. Federation of American Scientists, 22 July 2013. Web. 22 July 2013.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Boeing SLAM-ER Home: Overview
- ↑ Cordesman, Anthony H. The Iraq War: Strategy, Tactics, and Military Lessons. (Washington: CSIS Press, 2003) 296.
- ↑ GE - Automatic Target Recognition Unit (ATRU)
- ↑ Boeing: F-15K Makes History with SLAM-ER Release. St. Louis: 27 Mar 2006. Web. Accessed 15 Jan 2013.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Washington Beef up the Gulf States with 10,000 Strike Weapons Worth US$10 Billion". Defense Update. 17 October 2013. http://defense-update.com/20131017_gulf_states_strike_weapons.html. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
- ↑ Republic of Korea Chooses Boeing SLAM-ER Missile
- ↑ SLAM-ER and Harpoon Foreign Military Sales
The original article can be found at AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER and the edit history here.