The Boeing Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM ER) weapon system scored a direct hit against a remote-controlled, land-based moving target Jan. 15 in a flight test conducted at the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center in China Lake, Calif."SLAM ER has demonstrated its effectiveness against stationary targets, moving surface-ship targets and, now, land-based moving targets," said Jan Browne, director of Stand-off Strike Weapons for Boeing. "This advanced capability provides an added level of security for our warfighters."
The test concluded a successful, four-part series of developmental/operational flight tests funded by the U.S. Navy Rapid Technology Transfer program. Previous test flights included engagement with remote-controlled mobile targets in 2006 and an operational test launch earlier in January.
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Looks cute, though the restriction to subsonic speed is something the US seems unable to resolve.
ReplyDeleteThe SLAM has broadly the same range and warhead as the BrahMos, but weighs one-fourth as much, which allows a broader range of aircraft to carry it, and to carry more of them.
ReplyDeleteSupersonic speed can be useful from a tactical standpoint, but it requires much heavier airframes and much more fuel to achieve. It also means a very hot airframe, which makes it easier to spot the missile with passive detection devices.
Not to deride the BrahMos, which is certainly a very nice piece of equipment, but the US Navy's decision to stick with evolved versions of tried-and-true weapons is quite sensible and cost-effective. This is a rare and precious quality in the current procurement environment.