US Marine Corps Establishes Attack Drone Team Amid Global Drone Arms Race

The United States Marine Corps has formally established an attack drone team, a move that underscores the escalating significance of unmanned aerial vehicles in modern warfare. The Marine Corps Attack Drone Team (MCADT), stationed at the Weapons Training Battalion in Quantico, Virginia, aims to rapidly integrate armed first-person view (FPV) drones into the Fleet Marine Force (FMF). This initiative signals a critical shift in how future battles may be fought, with the US military actively seeking to adapt to the evolving technological landscape.

The driving force behind the creation of MCADT is the rapid proliferation and tactical advancement of armed FPV drones, which have demonstrated their lethality and effectiveness in recent conflicts, particularly in the ongoing war in Ukraine. These drones offer a cost-effective means of enhancing squad-level firepower, providing Marines with organic capabilities currently lacking in traditional weaponry. According to a Marine Corps press release, the FPV drones in use will offer a range of up to 20 kilometers, or nearly 12.5 miles, for under $5,000 per unit, a price point that drastically undercuts the cost of more conventional weapons systems.

Maj. Alejandro Tavizon, the headquarters company commander at Weapons Training Battalion and officer in charge of MCADT, emphasized the team’s commitment to rapidly incorporating armed FPV drones into the FMF. By leveraging emerging technologies and refining drone employment tactics, MCADT aims to ensure that Marines remain agile, adaptive, and lethal in the contemporary battlespace.

Brett Velicovich, an Army veteran with extensive drone experience, characterized the formation of MCADT as long overdue, noting that the United States is now engaged in a drone arms race with adversaries such as China, Russia, and Iran. He asserted that the US has lagged behind in developing and deploying low-cost, highly scalable, lethal drone technology, which he believes will be a crucial component of future military engagements.

Velicovich argued that the United States needs to fundamentally rethink its approach to drone technology, viewing drones not merely as surveillance assets but as a form of ammunition. He pointed to the war in Ukraine as a prime example of the transformative potential of domestic drone production. Ukrainian forces have successfully utilized locally manufactured drones to strike high-value enemy targets, such as multi-million-dollar tanks and vehicles, with drones costing only a few hundred dollars.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced that Ukraine manufactured over 1.5 million FPV drones in 2024, including reconnaissance, kamikaze, and long-range deep-strike drones. Domestically produced drones accounted for an overwhelming 96.2% of all unmanned aerial vehicles used by Ukrainian forces during the year. Velicovich highlighted the scale of Ukrainian drone production, noting that some manufacturing plants are producing as many as 100,000 drones per month, a level of output that the United States needs to emulate.

While the US lags behind its adversaries in drone production capacity, the situation is not entirely dire. The Wall Street Journal, citing a Department of Defense estimate, reported that the US has the capacity to build up to 100,000 drones a year. However, this number is dwarfed by the production capabilities of countries like Russia and China, raising significant national security concerns.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at a meeting of the Military-Industrial Commission in late April, stated that almost all of Russia’s defense enterprises had met their orders in full last year, underscoring Moscow’s commitment to bolstering its war machine. According to a transcript released by the Kremlin, Russia delivered over 1.5 million drones of various types, including approximately 4,000 FPV drones equipped with virtual reality control systems, to the frontlines daily. Putin acknowledged that these weapons are still in short supply and emphasized the need for increased production.

Chinese technology company DJI is also a major player in the global drone market, dominating both U.S. and Asian markets. The company touts itself as the world’s leading manufacturer of consumer and commercial drones. Craig Singleton, a senior China fellow at the non-partisan Foundation for Defense of Democracies, highlighted DJI’s dominance in the global drone market, noting that the Shenzhen-based company controls more than 70% of the worldwide market share. He expressed concern that DJI drones essentially serve as data collectors for Beijing, potentially giving China access to sensitive infrastructure imagery, flight patterns, and other valuable information. Singleton emphasized that this is not simply a market-share issue but a national security threat.

Singleton argued that the US does not need to match China drone for drone but that it does need a sustainable production floor capable of producing at least 250,000 drones per year. He stated that the US is absolutely in a drone arms race with China and that losing is not an option. Success, he said, will depend on scaling production, protecting sensitive supply chains, and turbocharging innovation. He also emphasized that it’s not just about building drones but about fielding smarter, cheaper, and more resilient swarms faster than Beijing.

Looking ahead, the U.S. National Drone Association will host the Military Drone Crucible Championship in Florida later this summer. This event will provide a platform for the Marines and the Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment to showcase their drone skills and tactics in modern combat scenarios. This competition highlights the growing importance of drone expertise and tactical proficiency in the armed forces.