PATUXENT RIVER, Md. –
Late last year, the Marine Corps executed successfully its first live employment test of a new Long-Range Precision Fire (LRPF) capability. The event was executed at Yuma Proving Grounds (YPG) in Yuma, Arizona, where an AH-1Z Viper conducted single launch by way of a wireless application via Marine Air-Ground Tablet (MAGTAB).
The November test at YPG exceeded the threshold requirements in position, navigation and timing. This activity marks the first time a Marine Corps rotary-wing platform has employed a weapon system using a tablet-controlled device.
“Assessments of current and future capability gaps of the fleets needs identified this LRPF initiative as a cost-effective, long-range precision weapon for use against maritime and land-based targets,” said Col. Scott Shadforth, Director, Expeditionary Maritime Aviation-Advanced Development Team (XMA-ADT).
This project is an Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD R&E)-sponsored Defense Innovation Acceleration (DIA) project led by the XMA-ADT to evaluate cost-effective, long-range disparate effects in expeditionary and maritime environments.
From the Expeditionary Maritime Aviation-Advanced Development Team. 