The United States Navy has awarded an $86.2 million contract to L3Harris Technologies to supply the new Precision Attack Strike Munition (PASM) to the Marine Corps’ AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters.
The armament was developed to increase the range, precision and survivability of these aircraft in increasingly complex combat scenarios, both on land and at sea.
The new ammunition will allow helicopters to operate at a greater safe distance, producing kinetic and non-kinetic effects against surface targets. The concept is to give crews more attack options from dispersed positions, including in contested maritime environments, reducing exposure to enemy defenses.
The program’s advancement comes after years of tests carried out within the framework of Long-Range Attack Munition (LRAM), which evaluated the feasibility of rotary-wing aircraft to conduct offensive anti-surface missions at low altitude. According to the Navy, the results of these demonstrations were decisive in the decision to begin the acquisition of the PASM.
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The contract was conducted by the PMA-242 office through an OTA-type mechanism, used to accelerate the development and introduction of new operational capabilities. Deliveries of the system, which include training and support equipment, are expected to be completed by the end of fiscal year 2027, bolstering the Marine Corps’ distributed strike capability.
Source: Defence Blog | Photo: X @NAVAIRNews | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
More range. More precision. More lethality: The @USMC is fast-tracking the new Precision Attack Strike Munition (PASM)! Following successful testing by #HX21 in 2025, the Navy has awarded L3Harris Technologies the contract to bring this weapon to our AH-1Z Viper fleet. pic.twitter.com/es0sccb2IC
— NAVAIR (@NAVAIRNews) February 2, 2026
