In a push for enhanced operational capabilities, the U.S. Marine Corps is looking to implement a system dubbed the Expeditionary Precision Approach Landing Capability (EPALC). This program aims to facilitate the landing of military aircraft on airfields within 90 minutes after required equipment is delivered via MV-22 Ospreys or CH-53 King Stallions.
On **October 23, 2023**, Naval Air Systems Command published a request for information (RFI) to gather details on available flight line navigation systems capable of guiding both manned and unmanned aircraft in all weather conditions. The key specifications for the navigation system include compatibility with MV-22, CH-53, or C-130 transport aircraft, as well as a setup time of no more than 90 minutes for a four-person team. The system must provide precision approach guidance in low visibility conditions (i.e., visibility down to half a mile) with an operating range of 20 nautical miles.
This initiative aligns with the Marine Corps’ Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO) doctrine, which emphasizes the need for dispersed operations by small, self-sufficient units in coastal regions. EABO is designed for the deployment of mobile, low-signature naval forces that can conduct operations from temporary locations, ensuring mission success even in contested environments.
The RFI also specifies necessary security features, such as a friend-or-foe identification system and resistance to jamming or spoofing, while ensuring the ability to operate with minimal detectable signature.
The envisioned capabilities of EPALC parallel the ship-based Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS), which has enhanced aircraft carrier landings through GPS-based guidance. JPALS is produced by Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of RTX, which has also developed a ground version known as land-based expeditionary Joint Precision Approach Landing System (eJPALS) that can achieve full functionality within the same 90-minute timeframe.
Collins Aerospace has previously demonstrated the capabilities of eJPALS at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, where the system was tested in 2021 over a period of three weeks, involving 50 landings. The Marine Corps expressed interest in integrating eJPALS into future budgets following this demonstration.
The current RFI, which invites responses by **January 16, 2024** from companies in the commercial marketplace that can meet NAVAIR’s requirements, marks an initial step towards the acquisition and fielding of the EPALC technology.
Hope Hodge Seck, the author of this report, is an award-winning investigative and enterprise journalist specializing in U.S. military and national defense coverage.
