US Navy awards $3.1B in contracts to Boeing for cruise missile systems

The US Navy has awarded Boeing a combined $3.1 billion in contracts 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 that was contracted on 13 May while the remainder had been previously awarded.

“These 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,” Cindy Gruensfelder, vice president, Boeing Weapons, said.

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.

The Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile system. First introduced in 1977, it has been upgraded over the years and is now available as the Harpoon Block II. It also led to the development of SLAM and subsequently SLAM-ER.

Harpoon Block II features an autonomous, all-weather, over-the-horizon strike capability and is a weapon for both anti-ship and land-strike missions. These versatile weapons can be launched from aircraft, ships, submarines or by mobile coastal defense vehicles.