Article Posted on : - Jun 03, 2010

Viper Strike. A Northrop Grumman photo.

ALASKA (BNS): The US Marine Corps Harvest Hawk aircraft will soon be equipped with Northrop Grumman Corporation -built Viper Strike stand-off precision guided munition as part of an effort to bring greater utility to the Marines' KC-130J refueling and cargo aircraft.

According to the contract, the company will deliver 65 Viper Strike munitions beginning this year to the Joint Attack Munition Systems Project Office within the Program Executive Office Missiles and Space at Redstone Arsenal.

"Viper Strike provides the right characteristics needed to support our warfighters in the current fight. It gives high precision and agility to hit targets in complex terrain and with very low collateral damage," said Steve Considine, programs director, Aviation and Weapons for Northrop Grumman's Land and Self-Protection Systems Division, as quoted in the company news release.

Viper Strike is a gliding munition capable of precision attack from extended stand-off ranges using GPS-aided navigation and a semi-active laser seeker. Its small size, precision and high agility provide a very low collateral damage weapon that can be used in the difficult operational environments where U.S. troops may be deployed.