The United States Marine Corps (USMC) has issued a request for information to acquire up to 10,000 First-Person View (FPV) drones by January 2027, with a unit cost of less than $4,000.
The initiative is part of the Pentagon’s effort to rapidly expand the use of drones in the Armed Forces, mainly inspired by lessons learned from the war in Ukraine. The goal is to bring long-range strike capabilities to the squad level, providing a cheaper, more agile, and precise alternative to traditional weapon systems.
According to the USMC, FPV drones could extend troop lethality up to 20 kilometers, with the potential for adapting different types of payloads, including kinetic weapons. The Corps is looking for flexible platforms that can be modified and repaired by the Marines themselves in the battlefield, as well as operate both via radio frequency and fiber-optic cables, a solution that reduces vulnerability to electronic warfare.
Although the request does not set strict technical requirements, the expectation is to accelerate production and allow large-scale deliveries in short timelines.
Alongside the acquisition process, the Marines have already been testing and training the use of FPV drones in exercises and competitions, such as those held in Japan and Puerto Rico, as well as creating the Marine Corps Experimental Attack Drone Team. While the planned numbers are modest compared to the mass production of drones in Ukraine and Russia, the USMC sees FPVs as an essential element of future conflicts, especially in ground combat scenarios where range, low cost, and speed of deployment will be decisive.
Source: The War Zone | Photo: X @3d_Marine_Div | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
