US Navy selects L3Harris Red Wolf for USMC strike programme

The US Marine Corps is set to receive a new missile called Red Wolf from L3Harris with a range of 200 nautical miles to help its helicopters bust targets in the Indo-Pacific.

By Sam Cranny-Evans, published on February 4, 2026.

BLUF: 

• L3Harris has been contracted by the US Navy to provide its Red Wolf missiles to the USMC after a series of successful demonstrations.
• It is a reflection of how helicopters remain valid in modern warfare, despite their vulnerability to a range of systems.

The US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has selected L3Harris Technologies to develop and manufacture the Red Wolf vehicle for the Marine Corps’ Precision Attack Strike Munition (PASM) programme, according to a January 30 press release.

The contract award follows 52 successful test flights, including a low-altitude live-fire demonstration from a Marine AH-1Z Viper helicopter in late 2025, L3Harris explained. The Red Wolf missile is intended to provide a long-range, cost-effective alternative to traditional “exquisite” munitions, offering what the company describes as “affordable mass” to the USMC arsenal.

It will complement existing helicopter-launched munitions like the AGM-114 Hellfire or AGM-179 JAGM that are limited to single-digit or low double-digit nautical mile ranges. Red Wolf extends this reach to 200 nautical miles, allowing helicopters to engage targets from standoff distances well outside the reach of most short- and medium-range air defence systems.

“Recent conflicts and incursions over NATO airspace, particularly with the increased use of mass-produced drones, demonstrates the urgent need for cost-effective alternatives to exquisite munitions,” said Christopher Kubasik, Chairman and CEO, L3Harris. 

• US Army pushes M-LRPSM through with new Lockheed contract – Calibre Defence 
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• Lockheed announces £8.9bn deal for CH-53K – Calibre Defence

This is certainly a fair reflection, but it is important to balance this type of statement. Kubasik is not arguing for low cost munitions instead of the exquisite, but a blend of both. There are some targets that low cost munitions are more than able to address, but many that they cannot. Intercepting drones or infantry in the open is best done with low-cost munitions, but hardened and well-protected targets, or those that can manoeuvre rapidly require more advanced types. 

Red Wolf was fielded through the Long-Range Advanced Missile program, which sits within the US Defense Innovation Acceleration program that aims to address critical military needs and validate requirements through operational demonstrations.

What is the Defense Innovation Acceleration program?

The Defense Innovation Acceleration (DIA) program (often found in budget documents as PE 0603838D8Z) is a Department of Defense funding vehicle designed to speed up the prototyping and fielding of modern military technology.

• Purpose: It focuses on taking technologies that have reached a mid-level of maturity (TRL 5-7) and “accelerating” them into the hands of warfighters within a 24-to-36-month timeframe.
• Transition: The LRAM initiative utilized DIA funding to move the Red Wolf system from a concept into a series of successful operational demonstrations. This allowed the US Navy to skip several years of traditional, slow-moving acquisition hurdles.

Calibre comment: Are helicopters still valid?

As a RUSI colleague recently wrote, “the limitations of helicopters in contested environments are clearly documented.” He was explaining the limits and strengths of helicopters in the wake of Russia’s use in Ukraine, which has cast some doubt over their value. However, they remain a valid capability despite heavy losses, many of which stemmed from MANPADS. During Ukraine’s counter-offensive, Russian helicopters proved effective at degrading and destroying Ukrainian armour once it had become immobile in minefields. They were also one of the only forms of dynamic targeting that the Russians had early on in the war. But all of that aside, arming helicopters like the AH-1Z with long-range missiles – assuming that their sensors can support target detection and tracking at 200 nautical miles – would make them a valuable source of fire support for the US Marines. So yes, they are still valid.

Short-range air defence is critical for many reasons, including the impact that unchecked attack helicopters could have on a force. If you would like to read more on the topic, this article might be helpful: Short range air defence, more critical now than ever

The lead image shows an AH-1Z with the US Navy’s Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (HX) 21, which launched a Long Range Attack Missile (LRAM) from an AH-1Z off the coast of Virginia in late 2025. This demonstration paved the way for the Precision Attack Strike Munitions program (PASM), bringing cost-effective, long-range precision strikes to the USMC AH-1Z missions. Credit: US Marine Corps photo.