U.S. Marines Seek New Navigation System to Enable Rapid Airfield Operations

Bell-Boeing CV-22B Osprey 12-0063 7th SOS USAFEBell-Boeing CV-22B Osprey 12-0063 7th SOS USAFE

Aviation News – The U.S. Marine Corps is pursuing a new landing-navigation system that would allow its aircraft to operate from makeshift airfields within 90 minutes, marking a major push to enhance rapid-deployment capabilities in remote locations.

The effort centers on the Expeditionary Precision Approach Landing Capability (EPALC), outlined in a request for information released Monday by Naval Air Systems Command. The service is asking industry to propose flight line navigation solutions that can guide Marine aircraft—both manned and unmanned—into improvised airstrips in harsh environments, from deserts to isolated island outposts.

EPALC aims to deliver an all-weather precision landing system that can be transported quickly via MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft or CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopters. Once deployed, the equipment is intended to establish a fully functional landing environment in under two hours, enabling safe operations even where no permanent infrastructure exists.