Leading aerospace and defense company, Boeing, has received a $3.1 billion contracts from the US Navy for Harpoon and Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) weapon systems in support of Foreign Military Sales (FMS). About $2.6 billion of the contract amount is under a new contract while the remainder had been previously awarded.
The Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile that uses active radar homing and flies just above the water to evade defenses.
The SLAM-ER is an advanced stand off precision-guided, air-launched cruise missile produced by Boeing Defense, Space & Security for the United States Armed Forces and their allies. The SLAM-ER relies on the Global Positioning System (GPS) and infrared imaging for its navigation and control, and it can strike both moving and stationary targets.
Cindy Gruensfelder, Vice President, Boeing Weapons, stated that the company is looking forward to continue its long legacy of partnering with the Navy to build weapons that defend America and its international partners. The recent awards will not only extend production of the Harpoon program through 2026, they will also restart the production line for SLAM ER and ensure deliveries through 2028.
Boeing last delivered the SLAM ER weapon system in 2008. In October 2019, Boeing began construction on a new 35,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility to support increased production for the Harpoon and SLAM ER programs. Construction is expected to be complete in 2021.
