Sun, May 08, 2005
Vikings Team Up To Reach Out
Two S-3B Vikings from VS-32 recently participated in the first
S-3B Viking launch of an Operational SLAM-ER missile in an exercise
recently at NAS Point Mugu, California. The missile was launched on
April 26th at the Naval Air Weapons Division (NAVAIRWD) Sea Test
Range (STR) to attack a target on San Nicholas Island. An F/A-18C
Hornet from VFA-86 and an F/A-18B from VX-30 assisted during the
exercise.
The Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) is
an air-launched, day/night, adverse weather, over-the-horizon,
precision strike missile with a range of over 135 nautical miles.
It uses a Ring Laser Gyro Inertial Navigation System (INS) with
multi-channel GPS to keep it on course. An infrared seeker and a
Man-In-The-Loop (MITL) data link allows pilots to control the
missile after launch. Newer versions incorporate Automatic Target
Acquisition (ATA) to improve target acquisition and defeat IR
countermeasures.
Aircrew and ground support members from VS-32 have been
preparing for the live shot to test the ability of the S-3B to
communicate with the missile while on the way to its target. The
lead S3-B was crewed by pilot Lt. Mike Kinter, Lt. j.gs. Aaron
Massey, Jason Ahmanson, and Rodrigo Simoes. The chase S3-B aircrew
was Lt. j.g. Jeff Harper, Lt. Taylor Brownlie, Lt. Cmdr. Kevin
Quarderer, and Lt. j.g. Gary Roznovsky. Lt. Chad Deal flew the
F/A-18.
The lead S-3B launched the SLAM-ER about a hundred miles from
the target and controlled the missile's initial path. The lead S-3B
changed the missile's path to a secondary target, a mobile surface
to air missile launcher near the initial aimpoint in a midcourse
update.
The F/A-18 pilot provided the final (MITL) guidance of the
missile when the missile neared the target area while the S-3B
served as a backup. The chase Viking provided range clearance, took
photos, and served as a second backup for the MITL missile
control
This was the first time that a fleet S-3B Viking successfully
launched a live operational SLAM-ER in field conditions. This was
also the first time a Viking controlled the missile after launch
with the midcourse update capability of the missile system.
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