In March 2022, United States Marine Corps (USMC) Range Fire Desk Operators began using data supplied by Saab’s Wide Area Multilateration (WAM) system at MCAGCC Twentynine Palms to coordinate range training activities. This system, currently composed of 19 Saab RU7 remote units and a central processing system, is the culmination of several years of work by the Range Position Location Information (RPLI) program to upgrade the WAM system at MCAGCC Twentynine Palms. The system is designed to satisfy the USMC’s needs regarding information assurance and cyber security compliance, and units are configured for operations in the National Airspace System (NAS).
The RPLI program is a USMC effort that contracted with Saab to provide WAM systems at multiple training ranges in the United States. The program’s objective is to improve the situational awareness for Range Control Operations personnel by filling gaps in existing radar coverage. The RPLI program Plan of Record includes an expansion of this capability at MCAGCC Twentynine Palms and complete WAM systems installations at MCB Camp Pendleton, MCB Lejeune, MCB Quantico, MCAS Yuma and MCAS Cherry Point. More than 60 RU7 remote units are planned to be deployed over time throughout these installations.
The RPLI program is delivering WAM systems with ED-142 tracking performance that overcome challenges of topography and lack of commercial power sources. Saab’s RU7 remote units are able to function and survive in a harsh and remote desert environment for 15 years or more.
The MCAGCC Twentynine Palms expansion project also completed installation of six additional remote units recently. This work was completed by a team of DoD civilians, Saab Field Engineers and support contractors. They installed these units and the supporting solar stations via helicopter access. The site acceptance testing to integrate these into the existing 19-unit system is planned for completion one month ahead of schedule.
The reliable performance of the Saab WAM systems with RU7 remote units increases the USMC’s ability to safely train in live-fire environments by facilitating deconfliction of military aviation and ground activities. Twentynine Palms is the US’s largest Marine Corps base, and one of the nation’s primary military training bases for live fire, artillery, tank, and close air combat exercises.
