US military tests revolutionary long-range strike system from attack helicopters as WW3 fears mount
The US Marine Corps announced it successfully tested a new long-range strike system for its attack helicopters, just days after President Donald Trump issued a WWIII warning.
By STACY LIBERATORE, US SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR
Published: 21:05 GMT, 29 December 2025 | Updated: 21:46 GMT, 29 December 2025
The US Marine Corps has tested a groundbreaking long-range strike system for its attack helicopters just days after President Donald Trump issued a WWIII warning.
Over the Atlantic Test Range, the Marines launched the cutting-edge Red Wolf weapon from an AH-1Z Viper helicopter, striking a sea-based target with pinpoint precision.
Developed by L3Harris, Red Wolf is a modular, high-subsonic missile that can relay targeting data and engage distant targets, giving helicopters capabilities once reserved for much larger platforms.
Current helicopter-fired weapons, like the AGM-114 Hellfire and the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile–Medium Range, are limited to roughly 21 miles and 10 miles, respectively, while Red Wolf can reach approximately 230 miles at low altitudes.
The successful test marks a major leap forward in the Marine Corps' Long Range Attack Missile (LRAM) program, demonstrating a next-generation system that dramatically extends helicopter strike range.
In a potential Pacific conflict, the system could temporarily disrupt a warship's sensors, opening a window for follow-on strikes by larger weapons such as the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile or the Joint Strike Missile.
Earlier this month, Trump warned that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war could spiral into a world war.
'Things like this end up in a third world war,' he told reporters on December 11. 'Everybody keeps playing games like this, you'll end up in a third world war, and we don't want to see that happen.'
Over the Atlantic Test Range, the Marines launched the cutting-edge Red Wolf weapon from an AH-1Z Viper helicopter, striking a sea-based target with pinpoint precision
Trump’s warning casts a spotlight on the precarious state of negotiations in the ongoing war in Ukraine, which erupted when Russia launched a full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022.
Efforts to reach a peace settlement have been stalled by sharply divergent goals on both sides.
The president’s caution about a potential worldwide escalation highlights the conflict’s far-reaching implications, involving NATO, European allies, and other global powers as tensions enter another year.
While the Marines' test of the new weapon was not in response to Trump's warning, it does mark a breakthrough for the US military.
President at L3Harris’ Space and Airborne Systems Ed Zoiss said: 'This test validated Red Wolf’s advanced tracking and targeting capabilities, further demonstrating its ease of use and integration across platforms.