The Marine Corps has officially approved moving ahead to get its Medium Range Intercept Capability (MRIC) prototype certified, with plans for a series of activities this year to inform a potential fielding decision.
After three successful flight tests with the MRIC prototype, which incorporates components of Israel’s Iron Dome system, the Marine Corps’ Milestone Decision Authority gave approval on Dec. 13 to take the next step in the program’s development.
Barb Hamby, a spokesperson for the Marine Corps’ Program Executive Office Land Systems, confirmed to Defense Daily the ongoing certification process this year will culminate in a “Quick Reaction Assessment” to inform plans for fielding the system.
The MRIC prototype involves integrating the Marine Corps’ current Northrop Grumman [NOC]-built Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) and Common Aviation Command and Control System (CA2CS) with Israel’s Iron Dome mini-Battle Management Control components and Tamir interceptor missile.
The new milestone for the MRIC program, first reported by Breaking Defense, arrives after the Marine Corps and Israel’s Rafael detailed the final test with the prototype system in late October.
“Once again, Rafael’s systems have proven that they are able to integrate into existing systems and create synergy between systems, providing optimal performance,” Pini Yungman, head of Rafael’s Air and Missile Defense Directorate, said in a statement at the time. “In the latest test conducted by the Marines, a successful combination of the Tamir interceptor launched from a new launcher developed under the leadership of the Marines, combined with the Marines’ radar system and the battle management system, which are systems developed by American industries, was demonstrated.”
Don Kelly, program manager for ground-based air defense in the Marine Corps’ PEO Land Systems, said the three live fire tests “proved that the performance of the MRIC system with Iron Dome interceptors is good and provides a dedicated launcher solution for the Marines” (Defense Daily, Oct. 31 2022).
Gen. Eric Smith, assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, said last July the service was ready to procure MRIC after the first two successful live fire tests with the prototype demonstrated the system’s effectiveness (Defense Daily, July 21).
“High mobility, lightweight and much longer range, the MRIC, the Medium Range Intercept Capability, provided that to us. And we just proved it and tested it and now we’re going to start moving out to procure that system,” Smith said during a discussion with the Center for Strategic and International Studies at the time.