ST. LOUIS, April 10, 1997 -- Following on the heels of a highly successful March 18 first flight, the U.S. Navy has approved low-rate initial production of the McDonnell Douglas (NYSE: MD) Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM ER).
The decision paves the way for McDonnell Douglas to produce 60 SLAM ERs with fiscal year 1997 funds at the direction of the Navy.
"We're pleased with this decision and are excited to see the program moving ahead as planned," said Bob Krieger, general manager of missile systems for McDonnell Douglas. "SLAM ER performed extremely well in its first flight test and is showing it's on track to provide the U.S. Navy with a next generation weapon system at very low cost and risk."
In accordance with recent acquisition reform initiatives, the Low-Rate Initial Production I decision authority was delegated to the Program Executive Officer for Cruise Missiles and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and does not require further approval. A decision on the second low-rate production lot of SLAM ERs is planned for 1998. A decision on full-rate production is expected to take place after the completion of flight testing in late 1998.
Capt. Rob Freedman, program manager for SLAM ER, noted that this phased approach to full-rate production allows the decision-makers to limit risk and make the best investment decisions based on actual performance and achievement of certain measured exit criteria.
SLAM ER is an affordable upgrade program to the U.S. Navy's inventory of SLAM missiles that will provide significant improvements in survivability, standoff range, weapon effectiveness and reaction time.
The U.S. Navy plans to retrofit all 700 SLAMs in its inventory to SLAM ERs.
SLAM ER is built by McDonnell Douglas Aerospace, the tactical aircraft and missiles division of McDonnell Douglas Corporation in St. Louis, Mo.
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