PREPARE TO LAUNCH
“The MRC rapidly progressed from a blank piece of paper in July 2020 to the Soldiers’ hands in just over two years.”
and fabricated in record time and delivered to the unit in Decem- ber 2022.
“Following new equipment training, the gaining unit at Joint Base Lewis-McChord supported two successful flight test events demonstrating the system and unit’s readiness to support oper- ations,” Farrell said. “Following munitions delivery, the MRC reached its full operational status, and the unit is currently supporting operational exercises, exercising the hardware and networks needed to conduct these missions.”
By using existing Navy munitions, the Army inherits the capa- bilities provided by these missiles. “Future variants of both the SM-6 and Tomahawk will provide greater range, speed and the ability to prosecute a wider range of targets with great effect,” Farrell said. “Te Army and Navy have linked destinies, both wanting these missiles as soon as possible to meet operational needs. Tis requires consistent progress, funding and support to ensure these enhanced capabilities are developed and produced on time to meet operational needs.”
Te missiles are housed at a government-owned facility and MRC munitions are currently maintained by the Navy at key sites worldwide. Because the MRC can be deployed around the world, MRC munitions storage will ultimately support opera- tional demands where needed.
Te MRC program is a fully funded, $629 million program that expects to deliver a total of five batteries to the operational force. Te Army’s system uses several common components with the Navy as well as the Navy’s munitions.
“By purchasing these with the Navy, economies of scale can be achieved, supporting both service’s bottom lines,” said Maj. Bren- dan Georgas, MRC assistant product manager.
Te first battery of MRC capability is currently in the field as part of the Army’s 1st Multi-Domain Task Force, which is gaining experience training on and employing the system in operational environments. Te MRC program continues to produce and enhance capabilities of additional batteries that will be used
66 Army AL&T Magazine Summer 2024
around the world as needed to ensure freedom of movement for U.S. and allied forces.
“With MRC as part of the joint force, the Army will provide combatant commanders the ability to shape the battlespace in contested areas from the land,” Farrell said.
CONCLUSION Te Army’s advancements of its LRHW and MRC weapon systems mark significant milestones in modern warfare technol- ogy. Tese systems offer unparalleled speed, range and precision, bolstering the Army’s capacity to deter and swiftly respond to emerging threats.
Looking ahead, sustained investment in research, development and deployment will be imperative to fully harness the poten- tial of these technologies. Fostering international collaboration and strategic planning will be vital to seamlessly integrate these capabilities into broader defense strategies.
As these systems continue to evolve, they have the potential to fundamentally reshape the dynamics of military engagements, underscoring the importance of responsible and strategic use in preserving global stability and security.
For more information, go to
https://www.army.mil/peoms.
CHERYL MARINO provides contract support to the U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center (USAASC) at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, as a writer and editor for Army AL&T magazine and Network Runners Inc. Before joining USAASC, she served as a technical report editor at
the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities
Development Command Center at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, for five years. She holds a B.A. in communications from Seton Hall University and has more than 20 years of writing and editing experience in both the government and private sectors.
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