Northern Strike

A U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper helicopter assigned to Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 773, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Forces Reserve, in support of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force UNITAS LXIII, fires a rocket during close air support drills as part of exercise UNITAS LXIII at Santa Cruz Air Force Base, Rio de Janeiro, Sept. 8, 2022. HMLA 773 and 4th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company cross trained with the Brazilian Marine Corps by conducting close air support drills, which consists of locating targets from the ground and relaying coordinates to assets in the sky to destroy. UNITAS trains forces to conduct joint maritime operations through the execution of anti-surface, anti-submarine, anti-air, amphibious and electronic warfare operations that enhance warfighting proficiency and increase interoperability among participating naval and marine forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Colton K. Garrett)