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Last Update: 09/22/2026 at 11:34 PM EST
Marine Corps UAS Capabilities
Coverage from DroneDJ, DefenseScoop, and others
The Marine Corps is building uncrewed aerial systems into ground-force operations, combining reconnaissance drones, loitering munitions, robotics organizations, and counter-drone defenses.
Its approach spans training and force design as well as equipment: Marines are developing squad-level detection and engagement tactics, fielding Organic Precision Fires-Light for longer-range strikes, and establishing dedicated teams to test offensive and defensive drone operations. Ground Combat Element 2040 links these capabilities to dispersed operations, including in Pacific environments, while exercises at Twentynine Palms have exposed the practical challenges of identifying and defeating fast, maneuvering drones in contested conditions.
Looking Back
144 Day Timeline
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All Articles26 articles
Important
The US Marine Corps is training infantry units in 2025 to operate Skydio X2D reconnaissance drones and assess heavy-lift aircraft for medical delivery in the United States.
9/19/2026 • Military Drones & Battlefield Use • General
Marine Corps and Army officials discuss how small unmanned aerial systems extend squad engagement range while adding operator workload and equipment weight during deployments after Balikatan in the Philippines.
6/2/2026 • Military Drones & Battlefield Use • General
The US Marine Corps will provide Organic Precision Fires-Light loitering munitions to initial anti-tank units in January as dispersed Pacific operations expand.
9/2/2026 • Military Drones & Battlefield Use • General
The Marine Corps deployed OneArc's FlowState simulator in 2020s training sites from North Carolina to Okinawa to rehearse attack-drone tactics and electronic warfare without live-flight risks.
9/8/2026 • Military Drones & Battlefield Use • General
Marine Corps programs develop distributed autonomous VTOL UAS and Common Aviation Command and Control System software to support logistics, future strike, and reconnaissance from austere sites.
5/1/2026 • Military Drones & Battlefield Use • General
Marine Corps leaders said thousands of additional small drones will require scaled lithium battery safety logistics, operator proficiency, and US airspace and spectrum compliance as mixed-manufacturer systems integrate.
5/2/2026 • Military Drones & Battlefield Use • General
US Marines in Okinawa face hostile drone threats during training, prompting counter-drone team creation and fiber-optic drone experimentation amid Pentagon small-drone and EW-focused efforts.
4/29/2026 • Counter-Drone & Airspace Security • General
US Marines tested UH-1Y Venom helicopters as airborne motherships to launch and command Neros Archer FPV drones during a California training exercise.
5/21/2026 • Military Drones & Battlefield Use • General
The U.S. Marine Corps announced in 2026 that more than 6,500 new positions will expand drone, autonomous-system, reconnaissance, and counter-drone capabilities across Marine units and installations.
9/2/2026 • Military Drones & Battlefield Use • General
U.S. Marines conducted an FPV UAS integration exercise with a UH-1Y Venom on June 16, 2026, at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.
6/16/2026 • Military Drones & Battlefield Use • General
The U.S. Marine Corps demonstrated in California that UH-1Y Venom helicopters can deploy and control Neros Archer FPV drones during battlefield operations.
5/13/2026 • Military Drones & Battlefield Use • General
Marine Corps targets 2029 operational testing for MUX TACAIR using Northrop Grumman integration with Kratos XQ-58 Valkyrie, alongside autonomous ISR and logistics programs.
5/1/2026 • Military Drones & Battlefield Use • General
The Marine Corps launched the Marine Corps Counter Drone Team in 2024 to test counter-drone tactics and speed standardized training for defeating hostile small drones before deployments.
7/11/2026 • Military Drones & Battlefield Use • General
Interesting
Marine Corps crews tested helicopter-launched combat drones from UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z Viper aircraft near Twentynine Palms on May 13.
5/21/2026 • Military Drones & Battlefield Use • General
The U.S. Marine Corps released Ground Combat Element 2040 on Wednesday, outlining squad-level counter-drone defenses and 20-kilometer loitering munitions for future ground combat.
8/27/2026 • Military Drones & Battlefield Use • General
2nd Marine Regiment tested AeroVironment JUMP 20-X in California during training to conduct regimental-level fires with Switchblade 300 Block 20 loitering munition.
7/20/2026 • Military Drones & Battlefield Use • General
Marine Corps tested during a Southern California exercise a UH-1Y Venom helicopter-orbit concept to control a Neros Archer FPV drone after ground launch.
5/22/2026 • Military Drones & Battlefield Use • General
Marines on Okinawa expanded drone operator training in November and December, teaching basic flight and Archer-based attack payload delivery.
5/13/2026 • Military Drones & Battlefield Use • General
Col. Scott Cuomo said the Marine Corps grew from zero FPV attack drones in October to over 3,500 after creating the Attack Drone Team and running joint strike exercises in 2025 and 2026.
5/1/2026 • Military Drones & Battlefield Use • General
The U.S. Marine Corps expanded its FPV attack drone inventory and training pipeline through the Attack Drone Team after January 2025 launch, reporting a live-fire FPV strike at Exercise Balikatan.
5/1/2026 • Military Drones & Battlefield Use • General
The Marine Corps tested helicopter-controlled Neros Archer FPV drones off Camp Pendleton on June 16, 2026 to scout ships ahead of boarding drills.
7/17/2026 • Military Drones & Battlefield Use • General
The U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Marine Division tested Perennial Autonomy drones for integrated reconnaissance, strike and counter-drone operations on July 28, 2026, at Twentynine Palms, California.
8/4/2026 • Military Drones & Battlefield Use • General
The Marine Corps trained 1st and 2nd Marine Division Marines at Twentynine Palms, California, to detect and defeat small combat drones with firearms and electronic weapons.
8/13/2026 • Counter-Drone & Airspace Security • General
The U.S. Marine Corps purchased 400,000 Drone Round 5.56 L Variant cartridges in June for counter-drone operations in battlefield environments.
8/3/2026 • Counter-Drone & Airspace Security • General
The U.S. Marine Corps is fielding the Drone Round 5.56 L Variant across selected units in 2026 to provide rifle-based defense against small drones.
8/1/2026 • Counter-Drone & Airspace Security • General
Additional
U.S. Marines from the 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions tested kinetic defenses against fast consumer-sized drones during a three-day exercise at Twentynine Palms, California.
8/18/2026 • Counter-Drone & Airspace Security • General