tek@CS.UCLA.EDU (Ted Kim) (04/11/91)
From: tek@CS.UCLA.EDU (Ted Kim) In article <1991Apr10.024411.21061@amd.com> sdragoo@magnus.ircc.ohio-state.edu (Stephen P Dragoo) writes: >PTW: What's SLAM? Standoff Land Attack Missile (SLAM) AGM-84E ------------------------------------------- dimensions: 13.5" x 177" weight: 1385 lbs. payload: 488.5 HE penetrating warhead propulsion: J402-CA-400 turbojet (600 lb. thrust) fuel: 100 lbs. speed: 0.85 mach range: 120 nm. SLAM is a long range air and ship launched ground attack weapon. It is based on the Harpoon ASM. SLAM uses the same propulsion and warhead as Harpoon. The airframe was lengthen slightly to add more equipment. It may in the course of time incorporate some Harpoon Block II technology. Normal air-launched Harpoon is 151.2" long and 1145 lbs. Navigation to the target area is by GPS. Upon reaching the target area, target selection is made via data link. The data link is the same used in the Walleye II. After target selection is made, the weapon self guides using the same imaging IR seeker from the Maverick. Navy press statements about SLAM testing indicate that A-6E and F/A-18 aircraft have sucessfully launched SLAM. A test in June 1989 used a separate platform to launch and select target. Aviation Week (3 September 1990) reports that the US Navy successfully tested a ship-launched version of SLAM in June 1990 from the USS Lake Champlain. Target selection was done by a helicopter carrying a data link pod. The SLAM is an interim weapon. In its air-launched version, it replaces the role envisioned for the old cancelled Condor (AGM-53A) system. Navy plans call for SLAM to eventually be replaced by some member of the US Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) program or NATO Modular Standoff Weapon (MSOW) program. The most likely candidate is the Navy's Advanced Standoff Weapon System (ASWS). What will happen to the ship-launched version is less clear. It seems possible that it will escape replacement. The Condor system was cancelled largely due to the expensive long-range jam resistant data link used. The approach taken by SLAM is to use a less capable data link, but only for a very short period during target selection. The data link is not required for other functions such as navigation (handled by GPS) and guidance (SLAM is self-guiding, using an imaging IR seeker). Because it is in interim weapon, the Navy plans (at least in early 1989) were to procure only 290 SLAM at a fairly high cost. On 1 February 1988, McDonnell Douglas received a contract for 14 missiles. The first production delivery occurred on 3 November 1988. In the 1988 Standoff Weapon Master plan, SLAM was chosen by the Navy over AGM-130. In February 1989, authority for limited rate production (Milestone IIIA) was granted. Full production authority (Milestone IIIB) was expected sometime in 1990. I was not able to find specific information on the SLAM acquisition schedule. However, acquisition of all AGM-84 types was 138 in FY89, 190 in FY90 with 215 requested in FY91. In 1988, 116 AGM-84 were ordered, and 93 were ordered in 1989. Deliveries in 1988 totalled 116 and in 1989 they totalled 75. Recent media reports have indicated that SLAM has been used in the Persian Gulf War. Since SLAM is not offically operational, these SLAM firings in the Persian Gulf War are considered "tests". Sources: World Naval Weapon Systems by Freidman (Naval Institute Press) USNI Proceedings May 1989 USNI Proceedings May 1990 -- Ted Kim Internet: tek@penzance.cs.ucla.edu UCLA Computer Science Department UUCP: ...!{uunet|ucbvax}!cs.ucla.edu!tek
sylve_ge@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU (Gerald E Sylvester) (04/13/91)
From: sylve_ge@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU (Gerald E Sylvester) Does anyone know how the experimental JSTARS aircraft did on their "field tests?" Gerald Sylvester sylve_ge@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu sylve_ge@jhunix.bitnet