The U.S. Marine Corps is moving to acquire a new, highly mobile air-defense buggy, planning a sole-source contract with defense contractor V2X for up to 50 Denied Area Sprinter-Hellfire (DASH) systems. Based on V2X’s combat-proven Tempest vehicle—a modified Can-Am buggy armed with AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire missiles already used in Ukraine—the DASH system is designed to provide dismounted Marines with a rapid, shoot-and-scoot capability against the growing threat of enemy drones.
In the evolving landscape of modern warfare, where cheap drones can threaten multi-million dollar assets, the solution is increasingly coming on four wheels—and it packs a heavyweight punch. The Marine Corps, seeking to quickly field a proven counter-drone weapon, is turning to an industry partner to deliver a system that looks like it drove straight out of a tactical vehicle showroom and onto the front lines.
The core problem the DASH system is built to solve is the urgent need for a mobile, expeditionary air defense that can keep pace with dismounted Marines. As outlined in a contracting notice from Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM), the service has a “unique and specific need” for a counter-drone system that is both highly mobile and already at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 9, meaning it’s a proven, operational asset. DASH is meant to fill a critical gap in detecting, identifying, tracking, and defeating small drones in rugged, distributed environments.
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The basic function of the system is to serve as a lethal, radar-cued intercept platform. Based on V2X’s Tempest demonstrator, the DASH likely consists of a light 4×4 vehicle—similar to a Can-Am Maverick X3—equipped with a compact AESA radar and passive radio-frequency sensors to detect threats. It then employs AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire missiles, which use millimeter-wave radar seekers, to engage and destroy drones. This creates a self-contained “sensor-to-shooter” loop on a highly agile platform.
The company behind this capability is defense contractor V2X, the innovator and developer of the base Tempest system. The engineering and integration effort that will tailor it for Marine Corps use will be managed by the Program Executive Office, Land Systems (PEO LS) and its Ground Based Air Defense (GBAD) program office. This partnership aims to rapidly deliver a system that’s already been validated in real-world conditions, as evidenced by the two Tempest vehicles currently operating in Ukraine.
An important limitation, however, involves cost and future production. While Hellfire missiles offer a cost advantage over some alternatives like Stingers, the specific AGM-114L Longbow variant is out of production. Furthermore, the system is primarily effective against drones, helicopters, and some cruise missiles; its utility against fast-moving fixed-wing aircraft is limited by the missile’s range and speed. The Marine Corps’ aggressive delivery timeline—2 systems by May 2026 and 48 more by December 2026—also presents a significant logistical and manufacturing challenge.
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The overall value and summary of the DASH acquisition is its perfect alignment with the Marine Corps’ new warfighting philosophy. As the service pivots to Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO) in the Pacific, it needs lightweight, easily transportable systems that can defend scattered, austere locations from swarms of low-cost drones. A Hellfire-armed buggy enables the “shoot-and-scoot” tactics essential for survivability against a peer adversary. It provides a hard-kill, beyond-visual-range option that complements existing systems like the jammer-based LMADIS on Polaris buggies.
This contract reflects a pragmatic shift in acquisition strategy. Instead of funding a years-long development program, the Corps is leveraging a commercially derived, battle-tested design to get capability into the hands of Marines faster. “The DASH system fills a critical need… in a highly mobile, rugged form factor that will help protect Marines,” the contracting notice stated, underscoring the immediate operational demand.
The move also highlights the growing versatility of the Hellfire missile, transforming from a primarily anti-tank weapon into a multi-role, surface-to-air interceptor. While its successor, the JAGM missile, may eventually fill this role, the Hellfire’s existing stockpiles and proven performance make it a viable near-term solution for a pressing threat.
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If successfully fielded, the DASH system will represent more than just a new vehicle in the motor pool. It will be a tangible embodiment of the Marine Corps’ drive for innovation and adaptability, proving that sometimes the most effective answer to a high-tech threat is a rugged, cleverly armed buggy that can go almost anywhere.
