The U.S. Marine Corps is set to begin testing handheld C-UAS systems to equip deployed Marines, Lieutenant General Eric Austin, the Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration, announced on Tuesday during the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space conference.

This initiative has been in development for more than a year, culminating in a competition last September that assisted the Marine Corps in selecting appropriate systems for procurement.

According to reports, Lt. Gen. Austin emphasized the growing threat posed by unmanned aerial systems, stating, “One of the things that is apparent to all of us is that unmanned aerial systems are a threat not just to infantry Marines, but to all Marines.” He expressed the need to deploy the prototypes of these capabilities to frontline Marines, further enhancing their protection during operations.

To finance these new systems, the Marine Corps has reallocated some of its existing budget. The handheld systems will complement larger counter-drone initiatives already underway as part of the Corps’ ground-based air defense program.

Lieutenant General Benjamin Watson, Commanding General of the USMC’s Training and Education Command, highlighted the importance of these dismounted systems. He noted that these devices are less visible compared to existing equipment aimed at protecting larger formations, making them better suited for frontline combat scenarios.

“It has been a long time, maybe since World War II, since a member of an infantry squad on the ground actually had to look up or over his shoulder,” Lt. Gen. Watson stated, adding that the Corps is now facing adversaries equipped with aerial capabilities, particularly swarming drones.

“This represents a shift in mindset, reminiscent of the early ’90s and the Cold War era, where we trained small units to defend against aerial attacks,” Lt. Gen. Watson continued. He also pointed out the need for enhanced camouflage and concealment tactics to protect against aerial surveillance.

Additionally, the USMC is taking steps to strengthen its bases against drone threats. In March, Anduril received a $642 million contract to develop a capability to detect, track, and neutralize Group 1 and Group 2 drones as part of the Marine Corps Installation-Counter small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (I-CUAS) program.

Post Image Credit: Sgt. Amelia Kang, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.