US Marines Test Secret Long-Range Weapon From AH-1Z Viper Helicopter.
The US Marine Corps announced last week that it will conduct the first experimental test of a new long-range precision fires capability in November. An AH-1Z Viper helicopter fires munitions at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona.
The firing was conducted via a wireless application called the Marine Air-Ground Tablet (MAGTAB).
The tablet-like device can exchange navigation and communications data to improve battlefield situational awareness.
“The November test conducted with the YPG exceeded minimum requirements in terms of position, navigation and timing,” the service said in a press release.
“The event marked the first time a Marine Corps rotary platform has used a weapon system that uses a tablet-controlled device.”
The Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering sponsors the Defense Innovation Accelerator program, which is led by the Expeditionary Naval Aviation Advanced Development Team (XMA-ADT).
The project aims to “evaluate the long-term, cost-effective impact of different technologies in maritime and exploration environments.”
“A current and future capability gap assessment of fleet requirements indicates that the LRPF program is a cost-effective, long-range precision weapon for use against both maritime and land targets,” said Capt. Scott Shadforth, director of the Expeditionary Naval Aviation Advanced Development Team (XMA-ADT).
No further details have been released about the weapon’s specifications or development timeline.
In addition, the announcement of the test was delayed by more than three months, which has also increased the secrecy of the project.
The AH-1Z is equipped with the Hellfire air-to-surface missile, which has a range of 11 kilometers (7 miles).
The AGM-179 long-range air-to-surface missile has achieved initial operational capability on the platform, with a range of 8 to 16 kilometers (5 to 10 miles).
The Lockheed Martin missile was tested last year and successfully sank a simulated ship during its first launch in the Pacific.
In 2022, the service unveiled plans to replace the Hellfire missile with the long-range munition.
The Long-Range Strike Munition project is aimed at the Indo-Pacific region and is expected to have a range of hundreds of kilometers.
