Before new technologies and concepts become part of the Corps' inventory or doctrine they are tested at bases, camps and stations around the Corps.

Proposed new gear is put through the paces in the field while our decision-makers watch the demonstrations to determine if there is a need for such items. The testing, done by Marines, is essential and the findings they make on capabilities and operability often cause refinements in original designs or entire redesigns.

The tweaks and redesigns recommended to the manufacturers and leadership come by way of hard-knuckled trials and errors discovered by the Marines of today who are paving the way for Marines of the future.

THE RECONNAISSANCE, SURVEILLANCE and Targeting Vehicle faced grueling conditions at Quantico's Transportation Demonstration Range Severe Off-Road Track Dec. 11, 2004.

The RST-V is a hybrid-electric four-wheel drive vehicle designed to carry up to four Marines on long-range reconnaissance, surveillance and targeting missions--doubling the range or the time on station allowed by current systems. It can operate using both conventional fuel and electric-only power--the latter making the RST-V capable of stealthy movement.

The Quantico demonstration proved to the Marine Corps' leadership "the potential benefits that these advanced technologies provide on the battlefield," said Jeffrey Bradel, Office of Naval Research Maneuver manager. The vehicle allows small unit tactical reconnaissance teams, fire support coordinators, and special reconnaissance forces a means to quickly review the battle space.

The RST-V pushes the technology envelope farther with a highly efficient hybrid-electric system for increased fuel economy, and beefed up suspension for cross-country speed and maneuverability. The vehicle also has multiple geographical location and communication sensors. It can be reconfigured to conduct various missions, including forward observation and air control, battlefield ambulance service, air defense, logistics, mortar weapons carrier, and a command post variant, complete with a 60-kilowatt generator.

The RST-V started with concept studies in 1997, followed by preliminary and detailed designs through 1999, said Bradel. During the last few years, four different vehicles were fabricated and subjected to performance testing and operational user evaluations. The vehicle underwent exhaustive testing, enduring more than 7,000 miles of field tests and numerous demonstrations at places like the Army's Yuma Proving Grounds in Yuma, Ariz.

The RST-V is designed to fit aboard CH-53 helicopters, MV-22 Ospreys and C-130 Hercules for transportation and delivery to the fight. Its inclusion to the arsenal adds to the Marine Corps' MAGTF Expeditionary--Family of Fighting Vehicles--the Corps' approach to support joint operations via expeditionary maneuver warfare through 2015 and beyond.

The program is a collaboration between the Office of Naval Research, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and General Dynamics Land Systems. The Marine Corps Warfighting Lab has also been involved in the testing.

Scan Eagle Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

By Sgt. Robert E. Jones Sr., CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq

THE SCAN EAGLE UNMANNED aerial vehicle demonstrated its prowess for I Marine Expeditionary Force intelligence headquarters in Iraq.

Together with its mobile deployment unit, the Scan Eagle provides computers, communication links and ground equipment necessary to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support during operational missions. The low-cost, long-endurance, fully autonomous UAV was developed and built exclusively for the Marine Corps by Boeing and The Insitu Group.

The two companies were contracted by the Marine Corps in June 2004 to provide two Scan Eagle mobile deployment units for I MEF, according to Dave Sliwa, director of Flight Operations at The Insitu Group.

The 4-foot long UAV with a 10-foot wingspan is launched autonomously by a pneumatic wedge catapult launcher and flies preprogrammed or operator initiated missions. It can fly up to about 10,000 feet with surveillance capabilities and remain in flight for more than 15 hours, Sliwa said. The Scala Eagle can remain aloft for more than 15 hours with future variants being able to remain on station for up to 30 hours.