Modern Day Marine 2026

Modern Day Marine 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

Active Protection Systems will give Marine ACVs a critical new layer of defense against anti-armor threats that could also help down incoming drones.

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 30, 2026 2:47 PM EDT

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)
CH-53K

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.
MIM-104 Patriot

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

Continued Coverage

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)
XQ-58

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

The MQ-58 with conventional landing gear will mark the beginning of the Marines’ operational Collaborative Combat Aircraft journey, with other types likely to follow.

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.
MV-75

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

The Marines have said “everything is on the table” when it comes to potential replacements for their AH-1 and UH-1 helicopters.

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.
Helicopters

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

Adaptations of two proven commercial rotary-wing designs are vying for a U.S. Marine Corps autonomous resupply vehicle requirement.

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)
XQ-58

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

Collaborative Combat Aircraft will “bridge” the Marines to a family of new capabilities that could include a new stealth fighter based on F/A-XX.

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 20, 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.
KC-130

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

Developed to turn USMC C-130s into close air support platforms during the Global War on Terror, Harvest Hawk’s relevance has waned.

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 23, 2026

U.S. Marine Corps legacy F/A-18C/D Hornets are in line to add air-to-air optimized versions of the 70mm Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rocket to their arsenal.
Laser Guided Rockets

USMC’s Old F/A-18 Hornets To Get Drone Swatting Laser Guided Rockets

The combat-proven APKWS II laser-guided rocket’s use as a valuable low-cost air-to-air weapon continues to grow.

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 13, 2026

YFQ-42 selected for test program with the USMC.
Loyal Wingman

YFQ-42 Fighter Drone To Test USMC’s Autonomy ‘Brain’ Alongside Crewed Jets

General Atomics’ YFQ-42 has been selected by the Marines to test how CCAs will think and fight with the MAGTF.

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Feb 11, 2026

The U.S. Marine Corps says it is planning to award a sole-source contract for a new AGM-114 Hellfire missile-armed mobile counter-drone system to defense contractor V2X.
AGM-114 Hellfire

Company Behind Drone-Killing Hellfire Missile-Armed Buggy Set To Get Marine Corps Contract

The Denied Area Sprinter-Hellfire system offers Marines a new highly mobile way to defend against drones and potentially other aerial threats.

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 3, 2026

Kratos has confirmed to TWZ that the landing gear-equipped version of its XQ-58 Valkyrie drone being developed for the U.S. Marines will still be able to make rocket-assisted takeoffs from static launchers.
XQ-58

Marine XQ-58 Valkyries Will Launch Via Rockets Or Runways

Rocket-launched USMC XQ-58s will still need to touch down on runways after their missions, presenting opportunities and a few tradeoffs.

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jan 9, 2026

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