{"id":31089,"date":"2018-01-10T18:26:56","date_gmt":"2018-01-10T18:26:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/01\/10\/marines-look-to-increase-range-and-lethality-of-artillery-mortars\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T21:10:27","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T21:10:27","slug":"marines-look-to-increase-range-and-lethality-of-artillery-mortars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2018\/01\/10\/marines-look-to-increase-range-and-lethality-of-artillery-mortars\/","title":{"rendered":"Marines look to increase range and lethality of artillery, mortars"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Looking to the future, the Marine Corps is focused on increasing the range and lethality of its artillery and mortar systems while also maintaining precision strike capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marines will need to be able to engage in battle across all domains to take on near-peer competitors, according to Lt. Gen. Brian D. Beaudreault, the deputy commandant for Plans, Policies and Operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When asked about the Corps\u2019 future for its fire support weapon systems: \u201cFor us, it\u2019s longer ranges with continued precision,\u201d Beaudreault said at the 30th Annual National Symposium for the Surface Navy Association Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That could be anything from the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, being deployed on ships, to 81mm mortars with increased range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Corps will be looking to take what traditionally is considered an area weapon \u2015 because of lack of pinpoint precision \u2015 and turn it into a precision strike weapon system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After 16-plus years of war in low-tech permissive environments like Iraq and Afghanistan, the Corps is catching up to compete with near-peer competitor threats from Russia and China, both of which are developing longer-range cruise missile systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But even less sophisticated enemy forces also are packing advanced weaponry, putting Marines and amphibious ships in harm\u2019s way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have been known to harass U.S. and Saudi warships with long-range, shore-based missile systems. And drone proliferation among nonstate actors could put shipboard Marines at greater risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking at the Modern Day Marine expo at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, in September, Commandant Gen. Robert Neller said Marines would have to \u201cfight to get to the fight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Combat in the littorals is fast becoming less of a permissive environment around the globe, especially near the South China Sea, where the Chinese military has created a man-made belt of islands with missile systems and sophisticated military hardware.<\/p>\n\n\n\t