Drone killing Marines: Corps seeks ‘buckshot-like’ counter-drone gear

The Marines are in search of weapons-mounted gear and ammo that may detect and blast drones out of the sky with “buckshot-like” functionality.

Marine Corps Programs Command posted a request for info from business on July 15 in search of white papers on how builders would offer sensing, detection, defensive and offensive methods to counter drone threats on the Marine squad and platoon-level.

A Marine squad is likely one of the service’s smallest models of motion and incorporates between 13 and 15 Marines relying on manning. A standard Marine Corps platoon holds as much as three squads.

In February, the Corps started the seek for counter drone tech to defend installations, in accordance with a service solicitation. That gear would additionally permit operators to jam drones and seize them with out destroying them.

Business submissions are anticipated by August 2 and people chosen for consideration could get an invitation to Marine Corps Air Floor Fight Heart, Twentynine Palms, California for a September stay hearth demonstration, in accordance with the solicitation.

The service has been utilizing the Mild Marine Air-Protection Built-in System, or L-MADIS, which makes use of two all-terrain autos that mix jamming expertise and conventional firepower, resembling Stinger missiles, to take out drones.

However each of these options are for bigger threats and have to be both vehicle-mounted or stationary.

The squad and platoon-level Marines want to hold their very own gadgets to detect, defeat and destroy group 1 and a couple of drones. Group 1 drones weigh as much as 20 kilos and fly underneath 1,200 toes.

Group 2 drones weigh between 21 and 55 kilos and may fly as excessive as 3,500 toes.

The brand new functionality that the Corps desires would come with detecting and monitoring gear that makes use of acoustic or radio frequency detection, in accordance with the solicitation. These sensors can be worn by particular person Marines and will have a handheld pill, bracelet, earpiece or glasses “that receives alerts, warnings, notifications from an exterior sensor.”

The identical functionality on the platoon degree might be car, mast or tripod mounted, in accordance with the solicitation.

On the offensive aspect of the counter-drone tech, the Marines need this particular person piece of kit to have both directional radio frequency or world positioning system jammers that may mount to a rifle.

However to destroy the menace at each the squad and platoon degree, they’re in search of a rifle and rifle optic mixture that may observe the drone and use “enhanced ammunition” for weapons already of their stock, to incorporate “buckshot-like” 5.56mm, 7.62mm, .50 caliber and 40mm grenade launchers.

Weapons that use these ammunition configurations embody the M72 Infantry Computerized Rifle, the M240 machine gun, the M2 machine gun and the M320 and M32 grenade launcher and Mk 19 automated grenade launcher.