Tongdao Think Tank 2024-02-17 09:01 Beijing.
After a year of development work, the U.S. Marine Corps will test a new missile-delivering drone in an operational scenario this month, according to the U.S. Defense News Network on Feb. 14**.
Vice Adm. Carsten Hecker, the U.S. Marine Corps' deputy commander for operational development and integration, said the Marine Corps has been working on two autonomous, low-profile vessels that resemble the semi-submersible ships of drug traffickers seen in Central America. The ships are designed to carry two naval strike missiles to the Marine Corps units on the shore, covertly delivering payloads without attracting any attention.
"It's very, very difficult, if not impossible, to track them down," Hecker said. "This is because the boat produces almost no wake when gliding through the water.
After working with a "mom-and-pop shop" to design and build the two ships, Herckel said, the Marine Corps has proven that it is possible to launch and ** both ships from the Navy Expeditionary Fast Transport and the Marine Corps aft landing ship.
This month, the Marine Corps will demonstrate the complete evolution of using these ships to shore Marine Corps supplies for launching the missiles needed to ship ships from land.
Hecker said the ships will play a role in the California Army-led Fusion Project 4 event, which features a "multi-domain maneuver corridor" phase of the exercise, designed to test equipment for supply and logistics missions.
He added that the tests so far have been "very successful". If the US Marine Corps does decide to buy these products in large quantities, it will have to look for a larger production contractor.
February** Dynamic Incentive Program