Leatherneck Magazine

TECHNOLOGY/GEAR

From Future Mach 7 Fire Support

To Mountain Cold Weather boots ...

A Fast Launch

Into the Future

Edited and compiled by R. R. Keene••••••••••••••••••••••••••••■

Naval fire support comes from 200 miles out. A new leatherneck fighter/ attack stealth VSTOL aircraft is unveiled. Marines are serious about a new lightweight machine to replace the humvee. A helmet-mounted Global Positioning System takes the guesswork out of jumping. Firemen may be replaced with combat rescue sling, and boots, boots, boots for Afghanistan. The Corps continues to move forward with warfighting capabilities for the future.

Kinetic Kaboom!

Naval Gunfire Support For the Future

Last thoughts of our future enemies: “Holy Chicken Little, maybe the sky is falling!” The future may give Marines a whole new dimension: calling for naval gunfire from 200 nautical miles over the horizon and Navy ships sending out a round at seven times the speed of sound with a trajectory that peaks somewhere in outer space and dives irrevocably earthbound, impacting

15 feet or less from its intended target.

It is the Navy’s electromagnetic rail gun. This gun is being touted as the future we’ve all read about in science-fiction stories and magazines. Military brass, Pentagon experts, military contractors and media watched a Jan. 31 demonstration and record-breaking shot at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, Va.