Small Low-cost Interceptor Device (SLID) The Boeing Company Missile Systems
Small Low-cost Interceptor Device (SLID) Missile Systems & Tactical Weapons Small Low-cost Interceptor Device
Boeing, under contract with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), is developing a small, low-cost, fully self-contained active defense system for military vehicles and high value assets which provides protection from missile and artillery threats. The system designated SLID for "Small, Low-cost Interceptor Device, " consists of a small, maneuverable hit-to-kill interceptor, high-speed launcher, passive threat warning sensor and precision fire control system. The SLID Technology Development and Demonstration program is addressing the need for self defense of military vehicles and helicopters, and area defense of soft targets such as command posts, air defense radars, counter mortar/counter battery radars, and parked aircraft. Threats are defeated at standoff ranges of up to 250 meters, and include Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs), High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) rounds, mortar rounds, and artillery shells. The entire integrated system is sized to reside on a small platform, with maximum component commonality between the vehicle self-defense system and the area defense system.

The SLID System draws upon technologies developed and demonstrated by Boeing including infrared sensors for threat warning, threat acquisition, and tracking; laser illuminators for threat designation, rangefinding and autonomous tracking; laser seekers for high accuracy terminal guidance; advanced digital processors for high speed computation; and solid propellant divert thrusters for interceptor maneuverability in flight. The SLID program has been ongoing since 1993, and will culminate with an end-to-end system demonstration in flight tests against live threats in mid-1998.

In a parallel IR&D activity, Boeing is also evaluating advanced SLID applications, including protection of assets from Anti-Radiation Missiles (ARMs), cruise missiles and unmanned air vehicle threats. Also under evaluation is an extended range (2km+) SLID system concept for defense of a wide spectrum of military assets at very long standoff ranges.

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