U.S. Marines Purchase 10 Tempest Air Defense Systems — The Type Is Used in Ukraine

The U.S. Marine Corps has approved the purchase of 10 Tempest mobile air defense systems of a type already used in Ukraine.

The Pentagon contract says that Vertex Modernization and Sustainment has received a $19 million contract to supply 10 combat vehicles.

The agreement also includes software, spare parts, personnel training and other technical support services required to operate the systems in the field.

The contract is to be completed by August 2027.

Tempest

The Tempest air defense system is designed to counter enemy drones, helicopters and low-flying aircraft in all weather conditions.

The combat vehicle is built on a chassis similar to that of the commercial Can-Am Maverick X3 buggy and is designed for operations in which high mobility and a low signature are key.

The system is equipped with two AGM-114 Hellfire missiles for engaging targets. During the presentation, the developer did not specify the exact missile variant, but it is likely to be the AGM-114L Hellfire Longbow, which is equipped with a radar seeker.

A radar station is mounted on the buggy’s frame and likely provides target detection and tracking, as well as target designation for the missiles. Optical sighting systems and laser guidance equipment were not demonstrated at the exhibition.

This may indicate that the radar is the primary means of detecting and tracking targets, further supporting the assumption that AGM-114L missiles are being used.

The company says the radar’s modular architecture allows the platform to quickly switch between mobile and stationary configurations without losing situational awareness or tracking accuracy.

In addition to the mobile version, V2X offers the Tempest on a trailer for static or semi-fixed missions, including the defense of military bases and airfield perimeters.

The vehicle has a limited ammunition load of only two missiles per launcher, but the Hellfire missiles are equipped with a powerful warhead weighing about 9 kg.

This is sufficient to destroy strike drones in the air while minimizing collateral damage on the ground caused by falling debris.

Tempest air defense systems are already in use in Ukraine.