Announcement of the Marine Corps FPV assault drone competitors – sUAS Information

R 201230Z MAY 25
MARADMIN 236/25
MSGID/GENADMIN/CG TECOM QUANTICO VA//
SUBJ/ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE MARINE CORPS ATTACK DRONE COMPETITION
PROGRAM//
REF/A/MARADMIN 235/25
REF/B/CNAF 3710.9/1 SEP 2021//
REF/C/MCO 3591.2L/3 DEC 2024//
REF/D/MARADMIN 284/24
REF/E/MARADMIN 398/24
NARR/REF A IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MARINE CORPS ATTACK DRONE TEAM (MCADT). REF B IS GROUP 1 AND GROUP 2 NAVAL AVIATION TRAINING AND OPERATIONS PROCEDURES STANDARDIZATION. REF C IS MCO 3591.2L

THE MARINE CORPS COMPETITION IN ARMS PROGRAM. REF D IS CLARIFICATION OF GROUP 1 AND 2 UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS (UAS) POLICY FOR THE OPERATION OF USMC SMALL UAS (sUAS). REF E IS BLUE UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM (UAS) PROCUREMENT AND TRAINING.//
POC/HUYSMAN, B.P./COL/TRNGCMD G-3/TEL: DSN 378-2196/
COMM: (703) 432-2196//
POC/CUOMO, S.A /COL/CO WTBN/TEL: DSN 784-5084/
COMM: (703) 784-5084//
POC/TAVIZON, A.P./MAJ/OIC MCADT/TEL: DSN 278-5226/
COMM: (703) 784-5226//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/

1.  Function.  To announce the creation of the Marine Corps Assault Drone Competitors Program.
2.  Background.  On 3 January 2025, the MCADT was established as described in reference (a) as a method of enabling the Service’s response to the speedy proliferation of armed first-person view (FPV) drone expertise and ways. CG TRNGCMD, because the Designated

Approval Authority (DAA), has designated CO WTBn-Quantico because the  Plane Reporting Custodian (ARC) to conduct all actions  required to assist MCADT operations in accordance with references (b) and (d). The MCADT will take part within the first US Army Drone Crucible Championship hosted by the USA Nationwide Drone Affiliation (USNDA) from 30 June 2025 to three July 2025 in  Florida, the place the Marines will battle towards different US navy items. The Drone Crucible Championship will include tactical inserts and mission parameters designed to make the most of the

“hunter-killer technique” of using each sUAS and FPVs. After the July competitors, the MCADT will share classes realized to tell iterative updates to Service-level necessities to allow speedy
fielding of essentially the most deadly capabilities to Marines throughout the Fleet Marine Drive (FMF). Concurrently, the MCADT will finalize plans to offer intermediate and superior armed FPV drone expertise to the FMF and Complete Drive through the Competitors-in-Arms Program (CIAP), much like what the Marine Corps Taking pictures Workforce has completed yearly for a lot of a long time. Executing drone competitions together with the CIAP gives a possibility to refine and always enhance these new precision weapons expertise to assist make Marines throughout the FMF extra deadly on the battlefield. Extra particulars can be included with the discharge of the FY26 CIAP MARADMIN to incorporate particular competitors dates and places.

3.  Mission.  Via aggressive coaching and experimentation and by representing the Marine Corps in inter-service, nationwide, and worldwide competitions, the MCADT will quickly speed up armed FPV drone classes realized from fashionable fight to extend our Corps’ warfighting benefit. The MCADT will present common enter to Service-level necessities and ship intermediate and superior armed FPV drone expertise to the Complete Drive through the CIAP to extend particular person and unit lethality.

4.  MCADT Occasions

4.a.  The MCADT will host regional competitors occasions in FY26 together with the Marine Corps Taking pictures Workforce and the CIAP. These occasions will present the chance to share classes realized in
armed FPV ways, methods, and procedures (TTP) to FMF items to maximise lethality and capabilities with these new methods. These occasions will even present coaching and administrative assist to
items who’re within the course of of creating FPV drone applications  of their respective instructions. Moreover, these occasions will function alternatives to recruit one of the best FPV operators to the MCADT to
proceed to symbolize the Marine Corps at future occasions and instantly affect the Marine Corps’ procurement and employment of armed drones.

4.b.  The MCADT will host a closing championship and choice occasion at MCB Quantico in April 2026 together with the Marine Corps Championships marksmanship occasion. This choice competitors is the
venue for the MCADT to pick essentially the most extremely certified FPV drone and sUAS operators from throughout the Marine Corps to enhance the MCADT throughout interservice and nationwide competitions. Marines
chosen to enhance the MCADT ought to count on to obtain  WTBn-Quantico-funded TAD orders.

5.  Duties

5.a.  Regional internet hosting items

5.a.1.  Function the lead planners for assigned match places. 

Coordinate with native instructions and the MCADT to make sure most participation.  If not already designated, items should be established as ARCs per Ref (b) by 30 September 2025.

5.a.2.  Coordinate with MCADT and registered groups to schedule FPV/sUAS operations on permitted ranges, aligned with Marine Corps Taking pictures Workforce occasions. Be ready to determine a Restricted Working Zone (ROZ) per SEPCOR steerage from MCADT.  

5.a.3.  Submit frequency requests to the controlling frequency supervisor IAW native submission timelines. Frequency requests can be decided from out there bands on the native installations and frequency ranges in out there FPVs and sUAS which can be registered for competitors.

5.a.4.  Coordinate all required vary security personnel, to incorporate  RSO, OIC, and corpsman.

5.a.5.  Work with MCADT to host a city corridor briefing for unit  commanders on establishing FPV / sUAS operations.

5.a.6.  No later than 90 days previous to the execution of the hosted competitors, publish a neighborhood Letter of Instruction (LOI),  outlining reporting directions, vary rules, billeting,  and different admin necessities. All necessities should be full  earlier than coaching begins.

5.b.  Regional Internet hosting Installations (MCB Quantico, MCB Butler,  MCB Hawaii, MCB Camp Pendleton, and MCB Camp Lejeune).

5.b.1.  Facilitate coaching space and ROZ necessities per paragraph 5.A.2.

5.b.2.  Facilitate coordination, deconfliction, and approval of  frequency utilization per paragraph 5.A.3.

5.b.3. No later than 2 June 2025, coordinate with Coaching and Schooling Command’s Vary and Coaching Program Division and supply recognized factors of contact.

5.c.  Command Sponsored Groups

5.c.1.  Most participation will increase the variety of extremely expert FPV and sUAS pilots throughout the Marine Corps. Commanders from throughout the Complete Drive are inspired to assist workforce entries. Groups 
must be comprised of at the least one officer, one employees non-commissioned officer, and at the least 4 FPV pilots. The deliberate idea for the drone competitors contains at the least one sUAS operator because the sensor / hunter and one FPV pilot because the weapon / killer. Particular steerage for workforce construction can be launched in
the FY26 CIAP MARADMIN NLT June 2025.

5.c.2.  In preparation for these MCADT competitions and occasions, items are inspired to totally overview reference (b),  particularly appendix H, and reference (d), which define the present steps wanted to determine sUAS operations at a command. 

5.c.3.  Per reference (e), items can go to the Clever Robotics and autonomous Methods (IRAS) SharePoint at https:(slash)(slash) usmc.sharepoint-mil.us/websites/DCCDI/SitePages/DistroD/Clever
-Robotics-and-Autonomous-Methods.aspx to overview the method for buy of Blue UAS system within the Blue UAS Handbook.

5.d.  Vary and Coaching Applications Division. No later than 2 June 2025, coordinate with MCICOM and internet hosting installations to establish places and close by airspace for drone occasions alongside regional
marksmanship competitions.

6.  Particular person Eligibility.  All officer and enlisted Marines of the energetic and reserve parts who meet the next standards are eligible to take part within the MCADT choice and competitors  occasions: (1) permitted by their command; (2) have at the least one yr  remaining on contract from date of USNDA Nationwide Competitors;  and (3) possess the maturity and competence to securely conduct FPV
and sUAS operations. Contributors should even be certified to function the assigned FPV drone and / or sUAS IAW ref (b), (d), and (e). 
Operators will need to have accomplished the UAS operator bodily (approved by a licensed medical supplier, flight surgeon authorization just isn’t required), be BUQ I / II certified, and designated in writing
by their ARC.

7.  Methods approved to be used in competitors should be Air Worthy as outlined by paragraphs 7.A. by means of

7.C. beneath.

7.a.  All program of document (POR) Group 1 sUAS methods (Skydio, SkyRaider, Puma).

7.b.  All non-POR methods listed on the DIU Blue Record per reference
(e) that additionally meet the necessities listed in paragraph 7.C.

7.c.  Methods procured or developed by particular person items. The MCADT will consider any unit-procured or developed system for approval to take part in drone occasions through the CIAP. Determination authority
rests with MCADT Workforce Captain. The respective sUAS / drone should meet air worthiness as permitted by the MCADT Workforce Captain in coordination with the internet hosting unit commander and set up commander. 
Procedures and timelines to submit requests can be offered within the FY26 CIAP MARADMIN. Procured methods through Business-Off-The-Shelf  (COTS) or developed as described above by collaborating unit or
supporting command should match the factors as listed beneath:

7.c.1.  Man-packable (should carry the gear to the competitors,  i.e., no palletized or trucked containers of parts);

7.c.2.  Specs of weight (0)-(20) kilos, operates beneath 1,200 toes AGL, and pace as much as 100 KIAS;

7.c.3.  Bought as Nationwide Protection Authorization Act  (NDAA)-compliant or assembled with NDAA-compliant elements  per reference (e).

7.c.4.  Attritable.  Assault drones on the fashionable battlefield should be low-cost. Items ought to attempt to maintain revolutionary constructing options as little as attainable inside the constraints of the factors recognized above. For competitors, attritable can be outlined as lower than $2,000 for the flying parts of the system.  This  value determine doesn’t embrace FPV goggles, controller / radio,  and supporting gear.

7.d.  MCADT will set up a SharePoint web site with a working checklist of NDAA-approved parts and reference paperwork to determine native groups.

8.  MCADT Summer season Increase Program

8.a.  Marines who show maturity, professionalism, and the highest technical and tactical proficiency can be chosen to increase the MCADT through the summer time competitors season. Summer season 
augments to the MCADT will additional compete in nationwide and inter-service matches from April by means of August 2026. The MCADT OIC will ship by-name invites from the MCADT Workforce Captain to the
Marine’s battalion / squadron / unit commanding officer (or OIC) and senior enlisted advisor. Size of TAD orders are negotiable between commanding officers / OICs however is not going to exceed the fiscal yr. The
MCADT will fund Marines through a cross-organizational line of accounting from the MCADT. The MCADT will present extra detailed reporting directions as soon as a Marine is permitted to attend.
8.b.  Summer season augments to the MCADT may have the chance to attend out there programs supplied by WTBN-Quantico akin to further FPV and sUAS programs and have the potential to be recruited as
everlasting personnel to the MCADT.

9.  Command and Sign

9.a.  Command.  Relevant to the full pressure.

9.b.  Sign.  This message is efficient on the date signed.

10.  Launch approved by Lieutenant Normal Benjamin T. Watson, Commanding Normal, Coaching and Schooling Command.//

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