Which designation describes the AGM-84E and what terminal guidance does it employ?

• A. Ground-attack missile with GPS guidance only
• B. Stand-off Land Attack Missile (SLAM) with INS, GPS and IR for terminal guidance
• C. Anti-ship missile with radar guidance
• D. Air-to-ground glide bomb

Answer: (B)

The AGM-84E is a Stand-off Land Attack Missile, meaning it’s designed to strike land targets from a long stand-off range so the aircraft can stay outside most defenses. It navigates with an inertial navigation system and receives GPS updates to stay on course during the midcourse portion. For the final approach, it uses an infrared sensor to home in on the target, providing terminal IR guidance. This combination—INS for navigation, GPS for updates, and IR in the terminal phase—fits the SLAM family and distinguishes it from GPS-only ground-attack missiles, anti-ship missiles, or glide bombs.