Advanced Land Attack Missile [ALAM] is a Congressionally directed program to fulfill Navy and Marine Corps operational requirements. It will have precision attack capability for ranges greater than the current Land Attack Standard Missile (LASM) with lethality and responsiveness to support the Marines Corps Operational Maneuver From the Sea (OMFTS) and Ship to Objective Maneuver (STOM) strategies. ALAM will be integrated into DD21 and possibly backfit into Aegis ships and submarines. The OMFTS and STOM strategies leverage the advantages of emerging technologies, ALAM and MV-22 for example, to develop greater amphibious operations capabilities.

The Advanced Land Attack Missile will provide DD 21 with the range, responsiveness, lethality, and accuracy to support Marine Corps interdiction requirements and associated maneuver concepts. ALAM will offer deep-strike and interdiction fire support against a broader future target set, including armored, mobile, and hardened targets, with greatly enhanced lethality. An 18-month Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) began in September 1999. A two year multi-contractor Demonstration/ Validation period commenced in FY 2001, followed by a contract award and commencement of the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase in FY 2004. ALAM IOC will support the delivery of the first DD 21 in 2010.

ALAM will be designed to destroy moving, armored and bunkered targets, at greater range. ALAM Requirements were established by Congressional language (HASC Report 106-162 on HR 1401 of May 24, 1999) and the LAM ORD of 31 August 1999. ALAM is to be surface and / or subsurface launch capable with an operational range to destroy / neutralize time critical and moving targets. Representative ALAM Targets in Warfighting Environment include C31 and logistics infrastructure, Artillery, Moving armor, Medium bunkers, Tactical missile launch units and Infantry mechanized units.