U.S. Marines conducted live-fire tests of the new Long Range Precision Fire (LRPF) missile back in November 2024, as reported with significant delay by the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). The launch was executed from an AH-1Z Viper helicopter, and a photograph featuring these missiles was included in the announcement.
The image shows the new LRPF missiles mounted on external pylons with standard three-point mounts, which have been fitted with an additional bright orange fairing indicating that this is an experimental model. The missile itself features a specialized stealth design, X-shaped tail fins, and seemingly wings that deploy after launch.
An interesting aspect of this missile launch is that it was executed using the Marine Air-Ground Tablet (MAGTAB) application via a wireless connection, presumably through WiFi. It is worth noting that MAGTAB is the standard tablet used by the U.S. Marine Corps.
It comes in several sizes and is primarily designed for flight mission planning, debriefing, aviation support requests, and situational awareness. MAGTAB features secure WiFi and a wide range of applications. Therefore, it serves as a multifunctional tool, similar to any comparable device. The use of a tablet to launch a missile marks a first for the U.S. Marine Corps.
Regarding the LRPF missile itself, NAVAIR has chosen not to disclose any details about it. However, its name might suggest that it is a result of a program previously known as the Long Range Attack Missile (LRAM). According to plans, the first launch of this missile was expected to occur between October 2024 and September 2025. If this assumption is correct, the missile has a maximum range of up to 278 km.
Moreover, it is relatively compact. Specifically, the standard payload on the external suspension points can accommodate up to 4 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, weighing approximately 200 kg. This indicates a relatively small warhead, likely within a few dozen kilograms.
In this context, it's worth mentioning the Barracuda project by Anduril, which aims to develop similar compact cruise missiles, which may be conceptually close to the LRPF, but are certainly not the same.
Alongside this, it helps to explain the entire concept behind deploying compact cruise missiles even on helicopters. The reason for this is that such long-range strike capabilities are evidently deemed sufficient by the Pentagon for operations in the Pacific against China, where there will not be a large number of highly protected targets, but there is a need for a vast array of strike assets.