U.S. Marines with III Marine Expeditionary Force evaluate equipment readiness on the Medium-Range Intercept Capability system on Mason Range, Guam, June 24, 2026 in support of VALIANT SHIELD 2026. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance. Cpl Benjamin Catindig)
The service requested $233.6 million for the MRIC program in fiscal 2027, according to budget documents, and plans to fully equip three batteries within the next three…
U.S. Marines with Tactical Training and Exercise Control Group, Marine Corps Air Ground Task Force Training Command, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, and 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, observe Marines conducting a live fire platoon attacks at Range 410A as part of Integrated Training Exercise 3-26, MCAGCC, Twentynine Palms, California, June 11, 2026. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lainey Brummett)
Lt. Col. Jeffrey Carben, the commanding officer of Marine Unmanned Maintenance Squadron (MUMS) 14, Marine Aircraft Group 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, gives his remarks during the MUMS-14 activation ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, June 16, 2026. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Keani Guthmueller)
The unit will consist of roughly 300 Marines and sailors. Most of those troops are unmanned aerial vehicle technicians, mechanics and ground control station maintainers.
Marine Corps Col. Jeremie “Hank” Hester, director of the Marine Corps Capabilities Development Directorate’s Aviation Combat Element speaks during a panel at GDIT’s Emerge: Battlespace of the Future conference in Washington, D.C., June 2, 2026. (Photo by Isaac Latimer with EPNAC)
“They have their organic weapon systems, and now we're asking them to put another 30 pounds of kit of ground control stations, all the accouterments that go…
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Seth Clayton, a finance technician with Headquarters and Service Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, works at his computer at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Jan. 21, 2026. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brady V. Hathaway)
A Marine with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, conducts reconnaissance and surveillance from an observation post during exercise Platinum Ren at Sorreisa, Norway, May 25, 2018. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Miguel A. Rosales)
While many foundations remain the same, a top Marine general said, "we shouldn’t be talking about reconnaissance without talking about robotics and sensors, and so that’s the…
A U.S. Marine Corps XQ-58A Valkyrie, highly autonomous, low-cost tactical unmanned air vehicle, conducts its second test flight with two U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft assigned to 33rd Fighter Wing, 96th Test Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 23, 2023. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. John McRell)
The Marine Corps is targeting 2029 to begin operational testing of its MUX TACAIR drone, while simultaneously exploring how exquisite unmanned systems can be used for other…