DIRECT HITS have been scored in three launches of the McDonnell Douglas (MDC) Stand-off Land Attack Missile (SLAM) in a demonstration of new automated mission-planning software. Aircraft from three US Navy MDC F-18 squadrons fired the missiles during training exercises at the Point Mugu, California, test range in August.
The exercise involved three "shooter" F-18s and three control aircraft carrying AWW-13 datalink pods. One shot was carried out at night.
The demonstration was the first use of mission-planning software which enables F-18 crews to load aircraft and missile mission data simultaneously, from the cockpit. The SLAM automated mission-planning system now in service consists of "smart-checklist" software for the Navy's Tactical Aircraft Mission Planning System and reduces the time required to plan SLAM missions.
Source: Flight International