US Marine Corps creates attack drone team amid global arms race

In the face of increasing global tensions, particularly with Russia and China, the U.S. Marine Corps established an attack drone team earlier this year at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia. This initiative is a direct response to the rapid advancements in armed first-person view (FPV) drone technology and tactics, which have begun to redefine the landscape of modern warfare. The team is designed to enhance the Marine Corps' operational capabilities by providing squad-level lethality with drones that can strike targets up to 20 kilometers away for a fraction of the cost of traditional weapon systems. Major Alejandro Tavizon, the officer in charge of the Marine Corps Attack Drone Team (MCADT), highlighted the commitment to integrating armed FPV drones into the Fleet Marine Force (FMF). The drones are expected to enhance small-unit lethality and offer organic capabilities that the Marines currently lack. This shift toward drone warfare reflects a broader change in military strategy, where technology is being leveraged to maintain agility and effectiveness in combat. The push for advanced drone capabilities is further emphasized by the statements of Brett Velicovich, an Army veteran with extensive experience in drone operations. He expressed concern over the U.S. lagging behind adversaries like China in drone production and capabilities. Velicovich urged a shift in how the U.S. perceives drones, advocating for their recognition not merely as surveillance tools but as crucial elements in combat scenarios. His insights underscore the urgency of ramping up drone manufacturing to meet modern warfare demands. Additionally, Velicovich noted that Ukraine's current conflict has demonstrated the effectiveness of drone warfare, where smaller, cheaper drones have been successful in taking down high-value enemy assets. The scale at which Ukrainian manufacturers are producing drones—100,000 per month—has raised alarms about U.S. military preparedness. With reports indicating that the U.S. can build up to 100,000 drones annually, experts suggest a necessary increase to at least 250,000 drones per year to remain competitive. To illustrate the critical state of the drone arms race, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that his country has been ramping up drone production, with over 1.5 million drones delivered—including frontline FPV drones—highlighting a growing reliance on drone technology in contemporary conflicts. With the increasing militarization of drone technology by various global powers, the newly formed MCADT signifies a strategic move for the U.S. to reclaim its standing in this crucial area of defense as military challenges evolve.