ST. LOUIS, Sept. 09, 1996 -- A Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response recoverable aerodynamic test vehicle safely separated from an F/A-18 Hornet in a test conducted at the Naval Air Warfare Center at Patuxent River, Md., on Aug. 22. The separation occurred at 5,080 feet at one G. The RATV separated cleanly, and was recovered from the Chesapeake Bay in one piece.
"SLAM ER continues to outperform our highest expectations," said James Restelli, vice president for missiles and aerospace support at McDonnell Douglas. "The program remains on budget and on schedule. We've stretched the envelope with SLAM ER. We believe SLAM ER will continue to be a great performer."
This was the first in a series of safe separations planned as part of the ongoing test phase for SLAM ER. Five additional RATV tests will be conducted, with the next test planned for mid-September 1996. In early June, SLAM ER successfully completed a series of captive loads flight tests aboard an F/A-18 Hornet.
Following the successful completion of the separation tests, flight certification of the missile will be conducted.
SLAM ER is scheduled to make its first powered flight in February 1997.
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McDonnell Douglas
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