- New Unit to Focus on FPV Drone Integration in Combat Operations
The U.S. Marine Corps has officially activated the Marine Corps Attack Drone Team (MCADT), marking a significant shift in the way America’s expeditionary force approaches small-unit warfare. The unit, based at Weapons Training Battalion in Marine Corps Base Quantico, is tasked with integrating armed first-person view (FPV) drones into frontline operations, a move that underscores the increasing importance of low-cost, precision-strike drones on the modern battlefield.
According to the Marine Corps, MCADT was formally established on January 3, 2025, under the leadership of Maj. Gen. Anthony M. Henderson of Training Command and Brig. Gen. Simon M. Doran of the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory. Commanding the unit is Maj. Alejandro Tavizon, who emphasized that this initiative is about ensuring Marines remain agile, adaptive, and lethal in today’s rapidly evolving combat landscape.
“We are ensuring that Marines remain agile, adaptive, and lethal in the modern battlespace,” said Tavizon. “This program is about mastering our primary platforms, maintaining redundancy with backup systems, and achieving the necessary repetitions to employ payloads with precision under real-world conditions.”
The establishment of MCADT comes at a time when battlefield reliance on FPV drones is growing exponentially. The ongoing war in Ukraine has provided a real-world case study of how low-cost, highly maneuverable drones can disrupt enemy formations, conduct intelligence gathering, and carry out high-precision strikes with unprecedented efficiency.
U.S. defense officials have closely studied these battlefield developments, concluding that the Marine Corps must rapidly adopt and deploy similar systems to remain competitive in future conflicts.
Unlike traditional drones, FPV systems—often operated using a video headset for real-time piloting—allow for more precise targeting at close range. These drones can be used for surgical strikes on enemy positions, armored vehicles, and even personnel, providing a low-cost, high-impact alternative to expensive precision-guided munitions.
MCADT is designed to be the Marine Corps’ primary hub for FPV drone tactics, training, and competition. The team will work closely with both the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory and the Marine Corps Shooting Team to integrate lessons learned from combat operations and competitive drone events.
The new unit will also explore a variety of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS), ranging from program-of-record drones—those officially adopted by the Department of Defense—to experimental platforms still in development.
These drones are expected to be cost-effective yet highly capable, with some models able to conduct precision strikes at distances of up to 20 kilometers for under $5,000 per unit.
According to Maj. Tavizon, the Marine Corps’ three-pronged approach will focus on:
- Mastering primary FPV drone platforms for offensive and reconnaissance operations.
- Ensuring redundancy by training operators on multiple drone models.
- Conducting rigorous repetitions to achieve precision targeting under combat conditions.
One of MCADT’s first major public appearances will be at the U.S. National Drone Association’s Military Drone Crucible Championship this summer in Florida. The event will pit the Marine Corps’ best FPV drone operators against elite military units, including the Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment, in a high-intensity combat simulation.
“We see competition as a way to refine our tactics and learn from our sister services,” said an MCADT official. “This event will allow us to stress-test our drones and operators in an environment that mimics real-world combat.”
The competition will feature tactical FPV drone missions in simulated combat zones, challenging teams to:
- Navigate urban environments while avoiding electronic countermeasures.
- Conduct precision strikes against simulated enemy positions.
- Execute high-speed reconnaissance missions in contested airspace.
Beyond the immediate tactical benefits, Marine officials say data collected from these competitions will help inform future procurement decisions and shape doctrinal updates related to FPV drone warfare.
The Marine Corps has ambitious plans to expand MCADT’s scope in fiscal year 2026, culminating in a final championship and selection event at Quantico. Lessons learned from these exercises will be used to refine Marine Corps drone doctrine, ensuring that small-unit leaders can integrate FPV drones seamlessly into their operations.
The establishment of MCADT is part of a broader Marine Corps initiative to modernize small-unit capabilities and develop scalable, cost-effective solutions for contested environments.
With near-peer adversaries such as China and Russia investing heavily in drone warfare, the Marine Corps sees FPV drones as a way to enhance maneuverability and firepower at the squad level—potentially giving Marines an edge in future conflicts.
“We’re not just adapting to new technology; we’re defining how Marines will fight with it,” said a senior Marine Corps official. “This isn’t just about drones. It’s about redefining small-unit lethality in the modern battlefield.”
The Marine Corps is not alone in its push to integrate FPV drones. The U.S. Army, Special Operations Command (SOCOM), and the Air Force are all investing in low-cost, tactical drones as part of broader modernization efforts.
However, the Marine Corps’ decentralized, small-unit focus makes FPV drones particularly well-suited to Marine expeditionary warfare. In a future conflict, Marines operating in a distributed, island-hopping campaign—such as a potential fight in the Indo-Pacific—could use swarms of FPV drones to:
Target enemy air defenses before a larger assault.
Disrupt supply lines by attacking convoys.
Neutralize enemy strongholds without exposing Marines to direct fire.
“The days of small units relying solely on rifles and grenades are over,” said one Marine Corps strategist. “Tomorrow’s squad leaders will have the ability to call in drone strikes with the same ease as using a radio.”
The formation of the Marine Corps Attack Drone Team (MCADT) signals a paradigm shift in how the Marine Corps approaches small-unit lethality. With real-world conflicts demonstrating the effectiveness of FPV drones, the Marine Corps is moving swiftly to ensure that Marines remain at the cutting edge of battlefield innovation.
As MCADT prepares for its first major competition this summer and expands in 2026, it is clear that FPV drone warfare is no longer a niche capability—it is a battlefield necessity.
