The mystery of the initially unidentified munitions seen on the wings of a US Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter earlier this year has been solved. In a post by the US Marine Corps, it was announced that the first live use test of the new Long Range Precision Fires (LRPF) capability was successfully carried out.
According to the latest information, these mysterious ammunitions belong to the "Red Wolf" family developed by L3Harris. mini cruise missiles According to The War Zone, the US Marine Corps is evaluating this system to provide a new long-range strike capability for AH-1Z helicopters, especially against land and sea targets. This development has the potential to significantly increase the helicopters' operational flexibility and range.
Cornerstone of the LRAM Project and PASM Program
In the statements made by the US Army, it was shared that Red Wolf is a munitions currently being tested within the scope of the US Marine Corps' "Long-Range Attack Munition" (LRAM) project. It was also reported that this mini cruise missile is one of the basic building blocks of the larger "Precision Attack Strike Munition" (PASM) program currently under development. This shows that Red Wolf is not only being developed for a current need, but will also form the basis of more comprehensive missile systems in the future.
First Test Images and Validation of L3Harris
The first test images of the Red Wolf munitions were shared with the public in February 2024. At that time, these munitions were only described in general terms as “a new Long Range Precision Fire (LRPF) capability.” However, L3Harris confirmed in a recent official statement that the munitions in the test images were Red Wolf mini cruise missiles developed by them. The statement also stated that at least one AH-1Z helicopter successfully conducted a live-fire test of the Red Wolf. This confirmation clarified the identity of the munitions, which had been a matter of curiosity for a long time.
Range and Cruising Speed
According to the information received, the Red Wolf mini cruise missiles are approximately 278 kilometers It is stated that it has an impressive range such as. It is also stated that these munitions can reach double-digit flight times. This shows that the Red Wolf is not a supersonic structure, but instead moves at a cruising speed focused on longer range and precision. These features may provide the missile with better survivability against enemy air defense systems.
Secret Development Process and Initial Tests
It is known that Red Wolf was originally developed as a secret project for the Pentagon's Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) and was first tested in the US Army's EDGE exercise in 2021. This information reveals that the project has been ongoing for a long time and its potential has been evaluated by different military branches. L3Harris also states that different versions of the Red Wolf family have been developed and that these versions offer different ranges, payloads and capabilities suitable for various platforms. This means that the Red Wolf platform can be integrated into different air and land vehicles in the future.
MAGTAB Control System and Similar Systems
The control system used in the tests was announced as MAGTAB (Marine Air-Ground Tablet). This system provides operators with tablet control, significantly facilitating the integration of both current and future missile systems into helicopters. It is known that similar tablet-based control systems are used in the UBAS (Satellite-Linked Smart Munition Family) project developed by TÜBİTAK SAGE in Türkiye and in Ukraine. The Ukrainian example in particular shows that such systems play a critical role in the integration of modern Western-origin munitions into Soviet-era aircraft. User-friendly interfaces such as MAGTAB increase operational efficiency by facilitating the use of complex weapon systems.
The Importance of Mini Cruise Missiles and Developments in Türkiye
Long-range small cruise missiles continue to be a rapidly gaining area of importance in modern battlefields. It is thought that there are an increasing number of options that can meet the PASM (Precision Attack Strike Munition) needs of the US Marine Corps. Important studies are also being carried out in Türkiye in this context. Developed by Baykar Technology KEMANKEŞ mini cruise missile, stands out as a prominent domestic product in this field. The range, precision and autonomous capabilities of KEMANKEŞ reveal Türkiye’s claim in this field, and it is expected that similar systems will become more widespread in the future. Systems like Red Wolf appear to provide significant firepower and tactical flexibility to air and land elements in future conflict scenarios.
