Boeing awarded contract for Stand-off Land Attack Missile – Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) for Saudi Arabia.

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded $25,345,439 for modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract. This modification continues the Phase I design maturity, analysis and test planning for the AGM-84H/K Stand-off Land Attack Missile – Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) production line for the government of Saudi Arabia.

 A US Navy McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet from the Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division (NAWCWD), China Lake, California (USA), in flight. The aircraft is equipped with an AGM-84 Standoff Land Attack Missile-Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) under the right wing and two AN/AWW-13 Advanced Data Link pods under the left wing.(Picture source: US Navy)

In addition, this modification provides for the redesign of obsolete parts to replace obsolete, nearly obsolete or uneconomical parts to support SLAM-ER weapon system production and improve future sustainment. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri (37%); Indianapolis, Indiana (30%); Melbourne, Florida (10%); Pontiac, Michigan (10%); Middleton, Connecticut (7%); Black Mountain, North Carolina (2%); South Pasadena, California (1%); Albuquerque, New Mexico (1%); Stillwater, Oklahoma (1%); and various locations within the continental U.S. (1%), and is expected to be completed in September 2019. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $25,345,439 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

The AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER (Stand-off Land Attack Missile-Expanded Response) is an advanced stand off 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 (Stand-off Land Attack Missile) (itself developed by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems from the McDonnell Douglas Harpoon antiship missile), the SLAM-ER is capable of attacking land and sea targets medium to long range (155 nautical miles/270 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 (command guidance). The SLAM-ER is a very accurate weapon; as of 2009 it had the best circular error probable (CEP) of any missile used by the U.S. Navy.