| AGM-84K SLAM-ER (Standoff Land Attack Missile - Expanded Response) | |
|---|---|
 AnF/A-18 Hornet carrying one SLAM-ER missile (top) and two AN/AWW-13datalink pods (bottom) | |
| Type | Long-range, preciseair-launchedair-to-groundstandoffcruise missile |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2000–present[1] |
| Used by | United States and its allies |
| Wars | Global War on Terrorism |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Boeing[1] |
| Unit cost | US$500,000–3,033,468 (2020)[2][3] |
| Variants | AGM-84H (2000–2)[4] AGM-84K (2002–present) |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 674.5 kg (1,487 lb)[1] |
| Length | 4.37 m (14.3 ft)[1] |
| Diameter | 34.3 cm (13.5 in)[1] |
| Wingspan | 2.43 m (8.0 ft)[1] |
| Warhead | WDU-40/B penetrating BF |
| Warhead weight | 360 kg (800 lb) |
| Engine | Teledyne CAE J402-CA-400[5] > 600 lbf (2.7 kN) thrust |
Operational range | 270 kilometres (170 mi)[6] |
| Maximum speed | 855 km/h (531 mph, 0.700 Mach)[6] |
Guidance system | Inertial navigation system supplemented by theGlobal Positioning System (GPS)[1] Infrared homing terminal guidance[1] Command guidancedata link to controllingaircraft[1] DSMAC Automatic Target Acquisition (ATA)[4] |
Launch platform | F/A-18C/D Hornet[1] F/A-18E/F Super Hornet[1] F-15E Strike Eagle P-3C Orion[1] P-8 Poseidon[1] and allied air forces, including theSouth Korean Air Force and theTurkish Air Force Past:S-3 Viking, A-6 Intruder |
TheAGM-84H/K SLAM-ER (Standoff Land Attack Missile-Expanded Response) is an advancedstand offprecision-guided,air-launched cruise missile produced byBoeing Defense, Space & Security for theUnited States Armed Forces and their allies. Developed from theAGM-84E SLAM (Standoff Land Attack Missile, itself developed byBoeing Integrated Defense Systems from theMcDonnell DouglasHarpoonanti-ship missile), the SLAM-ER is capable of attacking land and sea targets medium to long range (over 155 nautical miles/270 km maximum).[7] The SLAM-ER relies on theGlobal Positioning System (GPS) andinfrared 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).[1][8] The SLAM-ER is a very accurate weapon; as of 2009 it had the bestcircular error probable (CEP) of any missile used by theU.S. Navy.[1]
In 1999,Boeing and theU.S. Navy conducted a live fire of a SLAM-ER from anF/A-18 Hornet on the decommissionedUSS Dale (CG-19) off the coast ofPuerto Rico.[9]
The SLAM-ER obtainedinitial operating capability in June 2000. A total of three SLAM-ER missiles were fired by the U.S. Navy during theIraq War,[10] and the missile was also used duringOperation Enduring Freedom inAfghanistan.
TheGeneral Electric Company provides anAutomatic Target Recognition Unit (ATRU) for the SLAM-ER[11] that processes prelaunch and postlaunch targeting data, allows high speed video comparison (DSMAC), 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 officer can designate the point of impact precisely, even if the target has no distinguishinginfrared signature.[8]
It can be launched and controlled by a variety of aircraft including theF/A-18 Hornet,F/A-18 Super Hornet,F-16 Block 50+ andP-3C Orion, as well as by someF-15E Strike Eagle. TheS-3B Viking was also able to launch and control the SLAM-ER. TheSouth 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.[12]
In 2020, a proposal was put to Congress to allow the sale of the SLAM-ER toTaiwan.[13]
