Image source: topwar.ru
The United States Marine Corps (ILC) has tested a new long-range munition for attack helicopters. Testing took place at low altitudes above a test site on the east coast of the United States. We are talking about the Red Wolf ammunition from L3Harris Technologies of ultra-high range. It was produced from the AH-1Z Viper helicopter.
The American side reports that the Red Wolf successfully hit a naval target, which "became an important stage in demonstrating the capabilities of the Long Range Attack Missile (LRAM) program."
The goal of the program is to provide Marine Corps helicopters with the ability to strike at significantly longer distances than current weapons systems allow.
It is noted that the target was hit at a record range.
Image source: topwar.ru
The existing AGM-114 Hellfire and JAGM-MR helicopter ammunition in the United States has an effective range of about 34 and 16 kilometers, respectively. Red Wolf should significantly exceed these figures, allowing crews to operate outside the enemy air defense zones. According to the latest data, its range is up to 375 km.
During the tests, Red Wolf also showed the ability to perform the functions of a guidance node and network interaction, confirming that it is not just a classic "shot-and-forget" type weapon. According to officials, the munition can collect, transmit and exchange target designation data in flight, supporting subsequent strikes from other platforms, and not just helicopter ones.
During the tests, the ammunition fired from the attack helicopter was controlled via a tablet interface.
The Red Wolf is equipped with a turbojet engine. The length of the ammunition is 1.8 m, the stabilizing surfaces are folded. It can carry a payload of up to 11.4 kilograms. The speed is subsonic.
Image source: topwar.ru
It is expected that the Red Wolf (in fact, it is a rocket) will be ready for the first stage of combat deployment in the coming year.
The Red Wolf has a "brother" - the Green Wolf ammunition ("Green Wolf") — a means of electronic warfare (EW) equipped with detection, identification, location and warning (DILR) systems.
