I would like to report a likely implementation issue regarding the AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER in War Thunder.
At the moment, the missile appears to require an IR seeker lock before launch and then flies a relatively simple, fixed-altitude profile, which makes it much easier to intercept than expected for this class of standoff weapon.
Based on official and primary-source material, this does not appear to reflect the documented guidance concept of the real SLAM-ER.
According to Boeing’s official SLAM-ER product card (approved for public release by NAVAIR), the missile features:
a high-precision inertial navigation system
a jam-resistant GPS receiver
adaptive terrain following with automatic target acquisition
a passive seeker
and the ability to be re-targeted after launch
The U.S. Navy fact file also describes SLAM-ER as a weapon for both pre-planned and target-of-opportunity missions, using a GPS-aided guidance system, an imaging infrared seeker, a two-way data link, and flexible terminal attack profiles.
Additionally, a 1998 Institute of Navigation technical paper on SLAM-ER states that the missile uses GPS/INS for navigation along a pre-programmed trajectory to a data link transmit point, after which an infrared image is broadcast to the F/A-18. This strongly suggests that the missile’s mid-course navigation is not dependent on obtaining an IR seeker lock before launch.
An official U.S. Navy weapon description likewise states that SLAM-ER uses GPS/INS for mid-course guidance, IIR plus data link for terminal guidance, and that its new planar wings allow terrain-following flight. The same source also notes that Automatic Target Acquisition reduces or can eliminate the requirement for manual pilot intervention through the data link.
Because of this, the current in-game behavior appears incomplete in two major ways:
Launch logic:
The missile should not be limited to a pre-launch IR lock as its only meaningful employment mode. Official sources describe GPS/INS-based mid-course guidance for pre-planned trajectories, with IIR/data link functionality associated with the terminal phase and target refinement.
Flight profile:
The current fixed, non-terrain-following flight behavior does not seem consistent with the documented adaptive terrain-following / terrain-following capability and flexible attack profile described in official sources.
Suggested review points:
Reassess whether the missile should require seeker lock before launch in all cases
Reassess whether GPS/INS mid-course navigation should allow employment against pre-planned coordinates
Reassess whether the missile’s flight profile should better reflect terrain-following / flexible terminal attack behavior rather than a simple fixed-altitude path
This report is not asking for buffing the weapon beyond documented capability, only for a more accurate implementation based on official public sources.
Sources:
Boeing – SLAM-ER Product Card (Approved for Public Release by NAVAIR)
U.S. Navy Fact File – SLAM-ER Missile
Institute of Navigation (1998) –tive Update to a Premier GPS Guided Weapon”
U.S. Navy weapons description – AGM-84E/H/K SLAM / SLAM-ER
Thank you for your time.
About the lock on after launch what would make it easier for players but easier to code without making the missile lock on friendly tanks we could have a system implemented in this game (not like IRL here) is that you launch the missile in gnss and if you want it to target a specific target shine laser on it and youd have some kind of into on your screen (maybe a dot or something) when the missile locked the laser you could then turn it off go back down and it would guide it self towards the target minimizing friendly fire and making it effective? specialy during the pop-up faze of flight? what do you think about an option like this ?
This approach would also align better with how other modern guided weapons in the game already use simplified target designation mechanics instead of requiring exact real-world procedures.
I am not quite certain but can’t missiles like the KH38MT or the Spice bombs relock a target if they loose track due to smoke for example if it reappears?
It would be somewhat closer to it’s actual functionality with TERCOM and a 2-way datalink.
US lacks anything better than Mavericks, unlike Other trees that have been arbitrarily receiving the SPICE250 to cover the gap even if not actually deployed on said airframes.
And it’s not like the SLAM-ER or JSOW provide a novel capability to the US tree.
And that the GBU-53 are in the files but weren’t implemented. So until it was, there are significant issues at top tier interim of access to ordnance for the US tree where for the others it has been addressed to a degree by either the KH-38 or SPICE250.
I’m not arguing from a “US bias” perspective, but from consistency and gameplay balance.
We already have weapons in-game like the Kh-38MT that can be launched using GNSS coordinates without requiring a direct seeker lock before launch, and it performs well in its role with high speed above mach 2
In contrast, the SLAM-ER is currently forced into a much more restrictive usage:
it requires pre-launch lock
it flies a relatively predictable and easily interceptable profile
and it lacks the flexibility expected from a stand-off weapon
I’m not suggesting full real-life LOAL with datalink and complex target acquisition — that would indeed be difficult to balance.
However, a simplified implementation could work well for both realism and balance:
Allow GPS/INS launch toward a designated point
Keep IIR seeker functionality only for terminal phase
This would not make the missile overpowered, because:
SLAM-ER is subsonic (~0.8–0.9 Mach), unlike Kh-38MT
it would still be interceptable by SAMs
it would rely on positioning and planning rather than speed
Instead, it would make it a more viable counterpart to existing long-range A2G weapons, rather than leaving it underperforming in comparison.
So the goal is not to make it stronger than other missiles, but to bring it to a comparable level of usability and consistency within the current game mechanics.
Coincidentally best option for most other trees as well in games facing competent SPAA player because of the flat trajectory/being powered over Spice bombs.
No, you can turn the laser off, or break LOS and it will then drift, there is no need to support the missile though the entirety of the terminal phase.
