The US Marine Corps has tested a groundbreaking long-range strike system for its attack helicopters just days after President Donald Trump issued a WWIII warning.
Over the Atlantic Test Range, the Marines launched the cutting-edge Red Wolf weapon from an AH-1Z Viper helicopter, striking a sea-based target with pinpoint precision.
Developed by L3Harris, Red Wolf is a modular, high-subsonic missile that can relay targeting data and engage distant targets, giving helicopters capabilities once reserved for much larger platforms.
Current helicopter-fired weapons, like the AGM-114 Hellfire and the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile–Medium Range, are limited to roughly 21 miles and 10 miles, respectively, while Red Wolf can reach approximately 230 miles at low altitudes.
The successful test marks a major leap forward in the Marine Corps' Long Range Attack Missile (LRAM) program, demonstrating a next-generation system that dramatically extends helicopter strike range.
In a potential Pacific conflict, the system could temporarily disrupt a warship's sensors, opening a window for follow-on strikes by larger weapons such as the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile or the Joint Strike Missile.
Earlier this month, Trump warned that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war could spiral into a world war.
'Things like this end up in a third world war,' he told reporters on December 11. 'Everybody keeps playing games like this, you'll end up in a third world war, and we don't want to see that happen.'
Trump’s warning casts a spotlight on the precarious state of negotiations in the ongoing war in Ukraine, which erupted when Russia launched a full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022.
Efforts to reach a peace settlement have been stalled by sharply divergent goals on both sides.
The president’s caution about a potential worldwide escalation highlights the conflict’s far-reaching implications, involving NATO, European allies, and other global powers as tensions enter another year.
While the Marines' test of the new weapon was not in response to Trump's warning, it does mark a breakthrough for the US military.
President at L3Harris’ Space and Airborne Systems Ed Zoiss said: 'This test validated Red Wolf’s advanced tracking and targeting capabilities, further demonstrating its ease of use and integration across platforms.
'We’ve now proven our launched effects vehicles will help provide our warfighters the asymmetrical advantage they need to handle increasingly sophisticated threats without the need to enter into adversary weapon engagement zones.'
The turbojet-powered vehicle measures around six feet in length and features fold-out fins for stability and control.
It can also carry payloads weighing up to 25 pounds, according to The Defense Post.
Since 2020, the Red Wolf system has undergone more than 40 flight tests across a variety of platforms, including crewed and uncrewed fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and ground-based launchers, showcasing its advanced technical readiness.
With an estimated price of roughly $300,000 per unit, L3Harris aims to produce up to 1,000 missiles annually.
Industry reports indicate that Red Wolf is slated for initial operational deployment in 2026, as the Marine Corps and Pentagon move to expand their stockpiles of cost-effective, long-range strike and reconnaissance systems in preparation for potential high-end conflicts.
The system is a key part of the Pentagon’s strategy to expand its inventory of affordable, long-range strike weapons in the event of a prolonged peer conflict, especially in the Indo-Pacific, where high-cost systems like the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile–Extended Range and Tomahawk are limited by production and expense.
