Photo By Lance Cpl. Christopher Sanchez | U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Bryan Sanchez, aviation ordnance technician, Marine...... read more read more
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[MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, ARIZONA] - A tactical forklift also known as the S.A.F.E. Multi-utility Loader Expeditionary (MULE) was demonstrated at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, with the intent to increase lethality and survivability of Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO).
From March 25, through April 3, 2024, ordnance Marines with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron (VMX) 1 teamed up with Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to work on optimizing existing methods of ordnance logistics. They did this by implementing the MULE into an ordnance arming operation.
The MULE is a tracked vehicle that is operated by a single person using a remote control. It is a compact but powerful vehicle designed for use on unimproved ground, such as snow, tarmac or wherever environmental conditions are more favorable to the use of a tracked vehicle. It can operate in up to two feet of mud or water with the diesel engine raised. It has a tow ring and lift capacity of 10,000lbs. The MULE is also designed to load and unload heavy palletized cargo from an aircraft, transport vehicles or even from the ground to another location. Integrated rollers on the cargo platform help to adjust cargo properly in order to lift and lower safely. The cargo platform has an adjustable height deck to help support, secure, and unload any cargo being transported.
Capt Richard McGoldrick, aviation ordnance officer, VMX-1, says it’s important to try to utilize and test new equipment, “to VMX-1 ordnance this means that our logistical capabilities must modernize and improve just like our aircraft and weapons. Case in point, a multi-million dollar missile doesn’t accomplish much if we can’t load it when we need to.”
For many years, support equipment has been a great asset to the Marine Corps. With the assistance of Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron (MAWTS) 1, and NAVAIR, support equipment engineers executed a demonstration with the MULE to load and transport ordnance aimed at increasing the lethality and survivability of the three levels of EABO; hub, spoke, and node operations.
The hub is where the Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) headquarters is located. It offers a large footprint that can sustain multiple squadrons, provides higher echelon aviation logistics support and houses the tactical air command center, where the MAW commander can direct the fight. The spoke has lighter logistic support equipment and will normally be led by a group level command team operating out of either an established airfield or an expeditionary field. Nodes are a temporary area of operations that can be established for various durations of time and within strict locations. Nodes extend the operational range of a mission by allowing aircraft of all types to land, refuel, rearm and take off. This is important because Marines experimented alongside various subject matter experts on ways to decrease the amount of time required to deliver weapons via assault support aircraft and load them on the F-35B Lightning II using the MULE.
McGoldrick explains, “A major key to our survivability during EABO is speed. Seconds amount to minutes, and ounces to pounds; VMX-1 ordnance Marines embody these concepts daily. They must be truly well versed at many different tasks, leaning forward to adapt, solve problems and be effective during periods of change.”
VMX-1 demonstrated capabilities in engineering solutions aimed at enabling and improving aviation ordnance operations in severe and contested logistics environments. With the assistance of the MULE, this can be a stepping stone into furthering the capabilities and logistics of VMX-1 supporting EABOs.
In order for the MULE to benefit the Marine Corps and Marine Corps Aviation in the future, McGoldrick states, “support equipment and engineering solutions that save time, offer utility, and decrease our logistical footprint will be force multipliers in a deployed environment. These demonstrations and experiments are vital to improving our capability and extending our combat power.”
For more information, please visit: https://www.mcasyuma.marines.mil/
| Date Taken: | 06.05.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 09.13.2024 18:56 |
| Story ID: | 479780 |
| Location: | YUMA, ARIZONA, US |
| Web Views: | 749 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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