US Marines move to combat aerial threats with handheld anti-drone devices

The Marine Corps is preparing to equip deploying dismounted units with handheld counter-drone system prototypes as part of a broader effort to combat the growing drone threat. Along with bolstering air defense training for all Marines, these systems are designed to strengthen the Corps' overall defense capabilities against unmanned aerial threats.

This announcement was made at the Navy League’s annual Sea, Air and Space Exposition during a Marine Corps modernization panel on April 8, Caliber.Az reports, citing American media.

“It’s been a long time since an infantry squad member had to worry about drones or aircraft in a way that goes beyond calling in a medevac or clearing the airspace,” said Lt. Gen. Benjamin Watson, head of the Training and Education Command.

The Corps remains tight-lipped about the specifics of the prototypes, citing operational security concerns. However, officials confirmed that the systems will enable Marines to detect, track, identify, and neutralize small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS), both kinetically and non-kinetically, in dismounted formations.

Lt. Gen. Watson emphasized that the Marine Corps’ return to a focus on air defense is a shift from the era of air superiority experienced in recent conflicts. "We may never again fight under the same air dominance we have traditionally relied on," he noted, signaling the Corps’ recognition of evolving threats in modern warfare.

The counter-drone systems are part of a comprehensive initiative to protect not just infantry units but all Marines from aerial threats. “Unmanned aerial systems are a threat to everyone, not just infantry Marines,” added Lt. Gen. Eric Austin, head of Combat Development Command.

These handheld devices will be deployed with Marine Expeditionary Units and Marine Littoral Regiments, which are at the forefront of the Corps' operational needs. Larger, ground-based air defense systems, such as the Ground-Based Air Defense (GBAD), will continue to handle more significant threats, like missiles and mortars, and are used by mounted platforms in specialized air defense battalions.

The handheld systems were selected after a year-long review and a fly-off in September, where multiple technologies were tested. In March, the Corps awarded a $642 million, 10-year contract to Anduril Industries to provide counter-drone systems for Marine bases and fixed sites. This follows a $200 million contract awarded to the company in November to develop the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS), designed to safeguard dispersed units from airborne threats.

By Tamilla Hasanova