The development of the Red Wolf and Green Wolf munitions is part of this wider effort to prepare for a conventional clash with China.
The US Marine Corps conducted a successful test of the Red Wolf munition.
During the test, a Marine attack helicopter launched a Red Wolf missile successfully against a sea-based target.
A Successful Red Wolf Test
In an image released by L3Harris Technologies, two Marine Corps helicopters are flying close to one another. One of them, a UH-1Y Venom, is monitoring the situation and tracking threats, while the other, an AH-1Z Viper, carries two Red Wolf missiles on a weapons pylon over the Atlantic test range before firing them against a sea-based target.
“The U.S. Marine Corps continued its strong momentum with affordable mass effectors by performing a successful low-altitude test firing of the L3Harris Technologies Red Wolf™ vehicle over the Atlantic Test Range in September,” L3Harris Technologies stated.
The test fire was part of the Marine Corps’ Long Range Attack Missile (LRAM) capability demonstration.
“This test validated Red Wolf’s advanced tracking and targeting capabilities, further demonstrating its ease of use and integration across platforms,” Ed Zoiss, president, Space and Airborne Systems at L3Harris, said in a company press release.
The test fire took place in September, but L3Harris Technologies, the company behind the Red Wolf munition, just released information about the demonstration.
“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,” Zoiss added.
According to the company, the Red Wolf missile also participated in the targeting network, suggesting that the munition can help commanders map the battlefield and further enable the kill chain.
The US military and L3Harris Technologies first revealed the existence of the Red Wolf missile in February. Then, Naval Air Systems Command released depictions of the original weapon during tests that took place at the Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona in November 2024.
In addition to the Red Wolf, the Marine Corps and L3Harris Technologies have been working on a sister munition: the Green Wolf. That munition is a non-kinetic missile designed for electronic warfare and electronic attack. Such munitions are used to suppress an adversary’s air defenses, including detection and tracking capabilities, thus enabling other munitions and aircraft to conduct their missions unopposed.
“Red Wolf is a kinetic platform for long-range precision strikes, while Green Wolf is an electronic warfare platform equipped with electronic attack and detect, identify, locate and report capabilities. The production line for Red Wolf and Green Wolf vehicles is active in support of L3Harris customer demonstration and mission needs,” the defense company added.
Preparing for a War with China
Similar to the US Navy and Air Force, the Marine Corps continues to develop kinetic and non-kinetic weapon options to equip its ground and air assets in preparation for a near-peer clash with the Chinese military. The development of the Red Wolf and Green Wolf munitions is part of this wider effort to prepare for a conventional clash.
Marine rotary and fixed-wing aviation plays an important role in the ground operations of the Marine Corps.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: DVIDS.
