Text Fwd: US Marines Test New Missile In Japan, Australia

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U.S. Marines in Japan
June 12, 2009
Marine Attack squadron fires missile from Harrier
Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Cordero


-The AMRAAM [Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile] is an aerial launched, radar-guided missile capable of traveling at speeds multiple times that of the speed of sound. With the aid of the pilot, it tracks its target until reaching close proximity where it is then guided by its own active radar.
"(The firing of the missile) could be a stepping stone for Marine Corps aviation readiness."


KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa - Marines with Marine Attack Squadron 211, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, set the precedence in Marine Corps aviation advancement June 8, as the first fleet aircraft, forward deployed unit to fire the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile AIM-120B from an AV-8B Harrier.

The Yuma, Ariz. based unit is currently attached to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit based out of Okinawa, Japan.

The AMRAAM is an aerial launched, radar-guided missile capable of traveling at speeds multiple times that of the speed of sound. With the aid of the pilot, it tracks its target until reaching close proximity where it is then guided by its own active radar.

"(The firing of the missile) could be a stepping stone for Marine Corps aviation readiness," said Master Sgt. Earnest Chaney, the ordnance division chief for VMA-211. "It shows the capabilities of the Harrier and the potential of the aircraft to deal with new weapons."

The AIM-120B AMRAAM was recently authorized for use by forward deployed units. Although it has been tested before, it is the first time to be used by a fleet aircraft forward deployed unit, according to Chaney.

The missile was launched at a tactical air launched decoy, deployed by an aircraft from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 225. Capt. Michael W. McKenney, a Harrier pilot with VMA-211, fired the only AIM-120B to be fired that day.

"Everything that it was supposed to do it did," Chaney said. "It functioned as advertised."

According to McKenney, the weapon is in its early stages of testing, gearing toward implementation.

The combined support of participating parties helped the unit employ the event in the most effective manner.

"There was a lot of effort from the entire squadron to make this a successful endeavor," said McKenney. "The Marines had to learn a new weapon system and be able to load and test it. Also VMFA-225 played a vital role in the shoot by providing training support. Without them we could not have done it."

According to McKenney, the test allowed them to see where the capabilities of the aircraft and the unit stand.

With the success of the shoot, VMA-211 is preparing for their deployment with the MEU and their participations in Exercise Talisman Saber 2009 in Australia next month.
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