On February 13, the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) announced that it had tested the new long-range anti-surface missile for the U.S. Marine Corps’ AH-1Z Viper for the first time, with the tests conducted in November 2024. According to reports, the missile tests were successfully carried out at the Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) in Arizona, marking the first time the new wireless Marine Air-Ground Tablet (MAGTAB) was used on a USMC rotary-wing platform.
It should be noted, however, that this program is being kept highly secretive within the institution; a clear indication of this is the delayed publication of the news by three months. So far, only one image has been released, showing two of the new missiles mounted on the wings of the AH-1Z Viper involved in the tests. No further details have been disclosed regarding the missile’s development timeline, range, guidance system, or the type of warhead it uses for its explosive power. What has been confirmed is that the program is supported by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD R&E) and led by the Expeditionary Maritime Aviation Advanced Development Team (XMA-ADT).
Quoting a brief statement from NAVAIR: “The November test at YPG exceeded the minimum requirements for position, navigation, and timing. This event marks the first time a U.S. Marine Corps rotary-wing platform has employed a weapons system utilizing a tablet-controlled device (Editor’s note: referring to the MAGTAB).”
At this stage, it is important to consider that the U.S. Marine Corps is actively redefining the role of its AH-1Z helicopters in modern battlefields, aiming for these platforms to conduct long-range strikes in maritime and expeditionary environments. As a precedent reinforcing this concept, it is worth recalling that the Marine Corps tested these platforms in June with JAGM AGM-179 missiles, successfully launching them against a moving naval target.
Regarding the MAGTAB devices, the USMC describes them as a “lightweight, tablet-based system that enhances situational awareness on the battlefield, allowing dismounted Marines to leverage smart devices to map and share locations.” This system provides precise data on friendly and enemy positions on the battlefield, reducing the risk of potential friendly fire incidents.
The MAGTAB system has been under development for several years, with improved variants introduced in 2020. In 2019, the USMC released images showing its use during one of the Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) Courses held at the Yuma Proving Grounds, involving personnel from Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1). These images revealed that the system provided real-time operational data, such as the destruction of an anti-aircraft battery, the location of an enemy drone, and the positions of deployed allied units, among other key battlefield details.
Cover image: NAVAIR
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