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Boeing to Equip Cruise Missiles With Hard-Target Warhead

SEATTLE, Nov. 29, 1999 -- The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing a contract modification to add a penetrating warhead capability to 50 of its Conventional Air-Launched Cruise Missiles. Potential contract value is approximately $40 million over three years, which includes non-recurring costs for final development and qualification as well as conversions.

Boeing currently is on contract to convert 322 nuclear Air-Launched Cruise Missiles to non-nuclear CALCM AGM-86C Block 1 and Block 1A configurations. Under the latest contract modification, the last 50 conversions will be to the new AGM-86D hard-target penetrating warhead configuration.

Boeing will select either Lockheed Martin's Advanced Unitary Penetrator, AUP-3(M), or the Multiple Warhead System proposed by Team BROACH of the United Kingdom as the new penetrating warhead for CALCM. Both warhead variants have undergone a series of full-scale sled tests at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

CALCM is an affordable, long-range standoff weapon that has been employed effectively in combat in Operation Desert Storm, Desert Strike, Desert Fox and most recently Operation Allied Force.

"The CALCM already has unparalleled ability to deliver large payloads over long distances with almost pinpoint accuracy," said Chris Sales, Boeing CALCM program manager. "Coupled with the CALCM's precise Global Positioning System accuracy, the penetrator warhead will allow the missiles to destroy buried or reinforced targets from standoff ranges of hundreds of miles."

CALCM conversions are being performed in St. Charles, Mo., alongside production of the U.S. Navy's Harpoon and SLAM ER missiles and the multi-service Joint Direct Attack Munition. Boeing personnel in Seattle are providing engineering and logistics support work.

The first Block 1 CALCMs were delivered to the Air Force earlier this month. The final AGM-86D missiles will be delivered by mid-2001. Two AGM-86D demonstration flights are planned in 2001 prior to delivery of production missiles.

Boeing is the world leader in cruise missiles, having produced nearly 11,000, including the Harpoon, SLAM, AGM-130 and more than 1,700 ALCMs.

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Contact Info:
Chick Ramey
(206) 662-0949