Marine Corps Launch Attack Drone Team

The United States Marine Corps has launched the Marine Corps Attack Drone Team (MCADT) to enhance operational effectiveness in response to the growing use of armed first-person view (FPV) drone technology, particularly in Eastern Europe. Established on January 3, 2025, the MCADT integrates advanced drone technologies into Marine Corps tactics to maintain a strategic advantage in modern warfare.

Operating under the Weapons Training Battalion at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, the MCADT works closely with the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory. This collaboration leverages the expertise of the Marine Corps Shooting Team (MCST), known for its precision in weaponry, allowing the MCADT to refine drone tactics for combat situations. The goal is to equip Marines with enhanced situational awareness and precision strike capabilities.

The MCADT’s primary mission is to integrate armed FPV drones into the Fleet Marine Force (FMF) to enhance small-unit lethality. These drones provide organic capabilities, enabling Marines to conduct real-time reconnaissance and deliver precise strikes, improving decision-making and operational effectiveness. The integration of drone technology ensures that Marines remain agile and adaptive in an increasingly complex battlefield.

A key milestone for the MCADT was the March 7, 2025, demonstration at the Weapons Training Battalion’s range, where the team showcased the Neros Archer FPV drone. This demonstration highlighted the drone’s ability to engage targets accurately, emphasizing its role in improving situational awareness and precision targeting during combat.

The MCADT aligns with broader Department of Defense efforts to address emerging drone threats. In October 2024, the Marine Corps deployed unmanned aerial systems (UAS) during the Emerald Flag exercises at Eglin Air Force Base, alongside F-35B Lightning II fighters, demonstrating how UAS can gather critical targeting data. This initiative is part of a proactive strategy to integrate drone technologies into Marine Corps operations while countering adversarial drone capabilities.

In addition to operational advancements, the Marine Corps has invested in counter-drone technologies. In March 2025, Anduril, a defense technology startup, secured a $642 million contract to help establish anti-drone defenses at military bases as part of the Marine Corps Installation-Counter small Unmanned Aircraft Systems program.

The formation of the MCADT is a significant step in the Marine Corps’ modernization efforts. By integrating drone technologies and collaborating across the Department of Defense, the Corps is enhancing its operational capabilities to remain prepared for future challenges on the battlefield.