California-based Marine Group Boat Works has delivered a newly built Advanced Range Support Vessel to the US Navy, adding another platform for maritime testing and evaluation of emerging weapons systems. The vessel was constructed at the company’s Chula Vista facility and has been designed specifically to support offshore testing activities. The craft features an open aft working deck that allows crews to deploy aerial and surface targets during weapons trials. An onboard hydraulic crane can also be used to retrieve targets and equipment following test activities. This configuration gives naval test teams greater flexibility during range operations. Construction and validation of the aluminum vessel followed American Bureau of Shipping commercial standards, while additional inspections were carried out by the US Coast Guard. The platform is expected to support the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division at the Point Mugu Sea Range in Southern California. The new vessel will provide additional operational support for testing next-generation weapons and related technologies at sea, helping the Navy conduct controlled evaluations in realistic maritime environments.
