Air-ground missile launch from U.S marine corps V-22

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The Marine Corps, teamed with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency – DARPA, carried out in late March a test-launch of a precision-guided missile from an airborne V-22 Osprey. According to Marine Corps Times , the air crew coordinated the launch with ground troops, operating handheld tablet technology.

The PCAS, short for persistent close air support system, was demonstrated at Talon Reach, a regular exercise conducted in the southwestern U.S. The Marine Times quotes a DARPA news release explaining that during the demonstration the controller used the mapping software on his tablet to identify a target. He then communicated its position to a PCAS module inside the Osprey, the troops in the air and on the ground then confirmed the shot before the Osprey fired.

According to the DARPA news release the results where much better than achieved with “current methods relying on voice directions and paper maps.” The length of time from initiation by the controller to missile impact … is even better than PCAS’ goal of six minutes.

Officials are touting this enhanced communication and accuracy as another major leap forward for the Osprey and the Marines’ ability to quickly plan and execute missions.

Lt. Gen. John Davis, the service’s deputy commandant for aviation, called the PCAS test a positive byproduct of the service’s otherwise challenging fiscal constraints. When money is tight, leaders are forced to find new and creative ways to do more with the gear available to them, Davis said, adding it “leads to better thinking.”

The general also hopes to see the service maximize resources by developing a mid-air refueling capability for the Osprey.

According to a Raytheon, manufacturer of the Griffin B missile used at the demonstration the “Griffin B’s successful shots from the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey demonstrate that the missile is flexible and able to integrate on a variety of platforms.”  The tube launched AGM-176 Griffin missile traveled about 4.5 miles.