U.S. Marine Corps

Latest in U.S. Marine Corps

NSM sinks target ship in Luzon strait.

U.S. Marine Corps

Missiles Clobber Target Ship In Highly Strategic Luzon Strait

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 6, 2026

The U.S. Marine Corps is working toward adding an active protection system (APS) capability to its fleet of 8x8 wheeled Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACV).

Amphibious Vehicles

Marine Amphibious Combat Vehicles To Get Missile-Swatting Active Protection Systems

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 30, 2026

U.S. Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 461, Marine Aircraft Group 29, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, and U.S. Navy Sailors prepare to land a CH-53K King Stallion helicopter during UNITAS 2025, aboard the San Antonio class amphibious transport dock USS Arlington (LPD 24), off the coast of North Carolina, Sept. 25, 2025. UNITAS, which is Latin for “unity,” was conceived in 1959 and has taken place annually since first conducted in 1960. This year marks the 66th iteration of the world’s longest running annual multinational maritime exercise. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Orlanys Diaz Figueroa)

U.S. Marine Corps

Confidence In CH-53K King Stallion Grows Ahead Of First Operational Deployment

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 29, 2026

China is America's military equal now and in any future fight, warns a top Marine general.

U.S. Marine Corps

China is America’s Military Equal Now And In Any Future Fight, Marine General Warns

By Howard Altman

Posted on Apr 29, 2026

The U.S. Marine Corps is exploring the possibility of fielding a theater ballistic missile defense capability, driven heavily by discussions about the U.S. Army's capacity to provide protection against ballistic threats in future conflicts, or lack thereof.

U.S. Marine Corps

Marines Realize They Can’t Depend On Army For Ballistic Missile Defense

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 29, 2026

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Alexander PalafoxCayetano, a New York native, a transmission system operator with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, enters a building during urban lane training as part of service level training exercise 3-26 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, April 6, 2026. Service level training exercise assesses Marine Air Ground Task Forces abilities to plan, coordinate and execute large-scale operations by integrating command and control, maneuver, sustainment and live-fire events in realistic training environments.  (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Parker Peichel)

U.S. Marine Corps

Marines Offer Glimpse Of New Plan For Its Future Ground Combat Forces

By Howard Altman

Posted on Apr 29, 2026

A U.S. Marine Corps XQ-58A Valkyrie, highly autonomous, low-cost tactical unmanned air vehicle, soars overhead during its second test flight at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 23, 2023. The XQ-58A Valkyrie test flight and the data collected inform future requirements for the Marine Corps in a rapidly evolving security environment, while successfully fueling joint innovation and experimentation opportunities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. John McRell)

U.S. Marine Corps

First USMC MQ-58 Valkyrie CCA Drones To Arrive In 2029

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 29, 2026

Bell has put forward a new concept for a next-generation tiltrotor aircraft armed with anti-ship cruise missiles and other munitions for the U.S. Marine Corps.

U.S. Marine Corps

New Cruise Missile-Armed MV-75 Tiltrotor Concept For The Marines Shown Off

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 28, 2026

The U.S. Marine Corps is set to test at least two new autonomous cargo helicopters, as it seeks to field platforms that can rapidly resupply Marines in contested environments. The service recently awarded contracts for two such platforms, one being the R66 Turbinetruck that inserts Sikorsky’s MATRIX autonomy system in the proven Robinson R66 airframe.

U.S. Marine Corps

Light Uncrewed Cargo Helicopters Based On Robinson R66 And Bell 505 Compete For USMC Contract

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Apr 28, 2026

A U.S. Marine Corps XQ-58A Valkyrie, highly autonomous, low-cost tactical unmanned air vehicle, conducts its second test flight with two U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft assigned to 33rd Fighter Wing, 96th Test Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 23, 2023. The XQ-58A Valkyrie test flight and the data collected inform future requirements for the Marine Corps in a rapidly evolving security environment, while successfully fueling joint innovation and experimentation opportunities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. John McRell)

U.S. Marine Corps

F-35s Quarterbacking Drones Seen As Gateway To USMC’s 6th Gen Fighter

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 20, 2026

The Marines are keeping an eye on the progress of a seaglider drone.

U.S. Marine Corps

Regent Squire Wing-In-Ground Effect Drone Demonstrator Makes First Flight

By Howard Altman

Posted on Apr 13, 2026

Iran says the US is dropping mines from the air on its missile facilities.

U.S. Marine Corps

Is The U.S. Dropping Mines To Stop Iranian Missile Launchers?

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Mar 27, 2026

U.S. Marines assigned to the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 311 (VMFA), Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, prepare to launch an F-35C Lightning II at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, May 16, 2024. Checkered Flag is a large-force aerial exercise which fosters readiness and interoperability through the incorporation of 4th and 5th-generation aircraft in combat training. The 24-2 iteration of the exercise was held May 9-22. Nordheim)

U.S. Marine Corps

Land-Based Marine Corps F-35Cs Are Now Moving Towards The Middle East

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Mar 24, 2026

Amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) departs Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., April 7, 2022. Tripoli completed flight deck operations with 20 F-35B Lightning II jets from Marine Fighter Attack Squadrons 211 and 225, Marine Aircraft Group 13, and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, as well as Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 1, as part of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Lightning carrier concept demonstration. The Lightning carrier concept demonstration shows Tripoli and other amphibious assault ships are capable of operating as dedicated fixed-wing strike platforms when needed, capable of bringing fifth generation Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing aircraft wherever they are required. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Samuel Ruiz)

U.S. Marine Corps

Marine Expeditionary Unit Deploying To The Middle East: Report (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick, Howard Altman

Updated on Mar 13, 2026

The U.S. Marine Corps has quietly axed the roll-on/roll-off Harvest Hawk armament kit for its KC-130J Hercules tanker/transport aircraft.

U.S. Marine Corps

KC-130J’s Hellfire Missile-Firing Harvest Hawk Kits Retired By Marines

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 23, 2026

The U.S. Marine Corps is aiming to acquire a new single "capability" to fill gaps left by the retirement of its AV-8 Harrier jump jets, AH-1Z and UH-1Y helicopters, and legacy F/A-18C/D Hornet fighters.

U.S. Marine Corps

New Vision To Fill Gaps After AV-8B Harrier And AH-1Z Viper Retirements Laid Out By Marines

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 20, 2026