In light of the crucial role unmanned drones have played in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the United States Marine Corps has recently established an Attack UAS Team to address the rapid advancement of First Person View (FPV) drone technology and tactics in armed conflicts. This move aims to equip military personnel with an understanding of drone tactics, the ever-evolving landscape of modern warfare, and strategies for future conflicts.
FPV drones typically feature a camera that provides operators with a perspective similar to what they would experience flying from a cockpit, hence the term “First Person View.”
The Marine Corps Attack UAS Team (MCADT) will be stationed at the Quantico Marine Corps Base in Virginia, drawing on battlefield experiences to set standards for such drones within the Marine Corps. The FPV drones currently used by MCADT offer precision strikes up to 12 miles (approximately 19 kilometers) away at a cost of less than $5,000.
Lieutenant Colonel Alejandro Tavison, head of MCADT, stated, “MCADT is dedicated to rapidly integrating armed FPV drones into the Marine Corps to enhance the lethality of small units and provide combat personnel with situational awareness and beyond-line-of-sight strike capabilities that they currently lack.” He added, “Through the utilization of emerging technologies and improved drone tactics, we ensure the Marine Corps remains agile, adaptive, and lethal on the modern battlefield.”
While the US military has long used drones for reconnaissance and airstrikes, there is now a growing emphasis on learning from the drone tactics employed on the Ukrainian battlefield. Drones have become a critical component of Ukrainian and Russian infantry tactics, potentially replacing traditional artillery and precision weapons.
The US military is equipped with various reconnaissance and strike drones like the large RQ-4 Global Hawk, MQ-1 Predator, MQ-9 Reaper, RQ-180, as well as smaller tactical drones such as the RQ-7 Shadow, JUMP 20, MQ-35A, and suicide drones like the Switchblade, Parrot, Kamikaze Knife, Phoenix Ghost, among others. However, the simple yet short-range FPV drones have not received sufficient attention from the US military.
The experiences from the Russia-Ukraine war have highlighted that FPV drones are proving to be deadlier weapons than traditional shells and precision ammunition. Both Ukrainian and Russian forces have been utilizing FPV drones worth a few hundred dollars to attack enemy tanks and vehicles worth millions, resulting in their destruction or rendering them inoperable.
In drone warfare, production capacity plays a crucial role. Ukrainian Defense Minister Umelov mentioned that in 2024, Ukraine produced over 1.5 million drones, mostly FPV drones, including reconnaissance drones, suicide drones, and long-range strike drones.
Russian President Putin stated at a meeting of the Military-Industrial Commission in late April that in 2024, “over 1.5 million drones of various types have been delivered, with approximately 4,000 FPV drones with virtual reality control systems supplied to the frontlines daily.”
The Wall Street Journal cited estimates from the US Department of Defense, suggesting that the US has the capability to produce 100,000 drones annually. This difference in production capacity has caused concern within the US military.
However, Craig Singleton, a senior researcher on China issues at the non-partisan Foundation for Defense of Democracies, emphasized that the US does not need to match China’s drone capabilities but requires a sustainable production base to manufacture at least 250,000 drones annually. The key to US success lies in expanding production scale, safeguarding sensitive supply chains, and driving innovation. “It’s not just about making drones—it’s about deploying smarter, cheaper, and more flexible drone fleets faster than Beijing.”
The National Drone Association of the United States will hold a military drone championship later this summer in Florida, where the Marine Corps and the Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment will showcase their drone skills and tactical expertise in modern warfare.