Members of the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion Marines have fielded four updated anti-tank weapon systems updated by the Marine Corps Systems Command Light Armored Vehicle Anti-Tank Modernization program team in September.
The ATWS platforms were designed to fire tube-launched, optically-tracked, wire-guided missiles and provide long-range, stand-off anti-armor fire support for maneuvering Light Armored Reconnaissance teams and platoons, the Marine Corps said Wednesday.
“Compared to the legacy version, the new turret is unmanned, it fires both wire-guided and radio frequency TOW missiles, and it can acquire targets while on-the-move with an improved thermal sight,” said Jim Forkin, program manager’s office LAV-ATM team lead.
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael Lovell, ordnance vehicle maintenance officer for the PM LAV team, added the new turret on the LAV-AT vehicles helps users monitor other platforms and target adversaries with increased capacities.
The Marine Corps noted the LAV-ATM team offers equipment training services for units that will receive the ATWS upgrade to help guide operators and provide maintainer training services.
Operators can also utilize an embedded training mode feature included within the ATWS for individual and crew training missions.
USMC added anti-tank gunners and maintainers will have an opportunity to train within a classroom setting environment with the help of current three-dimensional computer simulated technologies and a blended training system that uses tactical turret trainers and a 3D Diagnostic Turret Trainer.
Paul Kopjoe, logistics management specialist of the PM LAV team at the Program Manager’s Office LAV, said branches of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Center helped procure and produce the 3D DTT training products including the gaming interactive technologies and multimedia as well as the automated test systems directorates.