Boeing

The Boeing Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response has passed a critical milestone in its development by successfully completing Operational Test and Evaluation or OPEVAL. An all-U.S. Navy independent test team from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Nine conducted the evaluation at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Calif. The OPEVAL report, issued March 6, grades the SLAM-ER operationally effective and operationally suitable.

"OPEVAL is designed to test the weapon's effectiveness in real-world operations," said Capt. A. J. Benn, U.S. Navy SLAM-ER program manager. "Operational test requirements are much different from flight test requirements. I'm pleased to say that SLAM-ER successfully demonstrated all of its mission areas and key performance characteristics."

OPEVAL for the missile originally was scheduled to conclude in the fall of 1999. However, the Navy incorporated several minor suitability upgrades to the system prior to freezing the configuration for full-rate production. Completed testing of those upgrades has resulted in a successful operational test.

Boeing is under contract with the U.S. Navy to produce 187 SLAM-ER missiles. Passing OPEVAL paves the way for Milestone III approval by the U.S. Navy in May.

SLAM-ER is produced by Boeing in St. Charles, Mo.

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