50.59 (+0.76) 
Surface Launched-AMRAAM Provides Effective and Integrated Air and Missile Defense Globally
Date posted: 08/14/2009*
Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems’ (IDS) Surface-Launched Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (SL-AMRAAM) system is a key link in today’s layered approach to air and missile defense. Warfighters can use this state-of-the-art system alone or as part of an integrated air and missile defense network for short- to medium-range protection against current and emerging cruise missiles and a wide range of air breathing threats.
Defending the U.S. Capital
SL-AMRAAM has been fielded by the Royal Norwegian Air Force for more than a decade and is known as the Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS). While the NASAMS version of SL-AMRAAM is operationally deployed internationally and is currently defending the U.S. capital region, a U.S. adaptation of the system is being developed by the U.S. Army.
The U.S. Army chose the highly flexible technology as its next-generation, short- to medium-range air and missile defense system (SLAMRAAM), and in May 2009 the U.S. Army approved $30 million for long-lead purchases leading to low rate initial production. The contract proves the U.S. Army’s confidence in SLAMRAAM’s capabilities.
SLAMRAAM provides the warfighter with highly mobile battlefield elements networked and geographically distributed to provide integrated fire control capability against airborne threats. In recent guided flight tests against unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missile targets, the SLAMRAAM system successfully met all test objectives. In its NASAMS’ configuration, it has demonstrated successful intercepts greater than 90 percent in more than 115 attempts.
“We’ve finished our very successful SLAMRAAM development phase and are preparing for production now,” says John Vaughn, business development manager for Raytheon IDS at the Warfighter Protection Center in Huntsville, Ala.
According to Vaughn, Raytheon IDS will soon begin an initiative to transition the SLAMRAAM launcher capability to a more survivable platform with ballistic protection for the crew. The SLAMRAAM program for the U.S. Army is planning to complete this platform transition in time to support a first unit equipment date in 2011.
SL-AMRAAM Continues Success in Europe; Begins Penetrating the Gulf
SL-AMRAAM is currently deployed in the U.S. capital region as well as Norway, the Netherlands and Spain. SL-AMRAAM is an affordable way for a nation to begin building a layered defense capability because it can integrate with other defense systems and is highly effective for protecting high-value assets. As a result, many countries are interested in SL-AMRAAM for their air and missile defense solutions.
SL-AMRAAM is adaptable to any operational requirement with both canister and high-mobility launcher options. Multitarget search and tracking is performed by the MPQ-64 F1 Sentinel radar, which is a highly mobile system fielded as the U.S. Army’s premier forward-area air defense radar. It uses a modern, advanced fire distribution center for full control of all missile-launcher functions and features the combat-proven, fire-and-forget AMRAAM missile.
Earlier this year, Raytheon signed as subcontractor to KONGSBERG to provide the NASAMS system to Finland (NASAMS-FIN). “We have a great relationship with KONGSBERG The company is an outstanding partner and has helped develop the NASAMS system starting in the late 1980s in conjunction with the Royal Norwegian Air Force,” says Bill Engel, director of Raytheon’s International SL-AMRAAM program.
The SL-AMRAAM program is also focusing on penetrating other countries in Europe, member nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Far East Asia.
In the near future, SL-AMRAAM will also have the capability to integrate the extended range (-ER) version of the AMRAAM missile, which is currently under development and will be mission capable in 2014. The AMRAAM-ER will be a plug-and-play missile capable of launching from the same rail as the AMRAAM.
“SL-AMRAAM is an effective and affordable way for a country to begin its layered defense program, and the extended range AMRAAM will further enhance SL-AMRAAM and offer another level of protection,” says Christian Leimkuehler, senior manager, International SL-AMRAAM Business Development at Raytheon IDS.
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