The Marine Corps’ push to modernize with drone technology is being hampered by entrenched bureaucracy, cultural resistance, and financial constraints, raising concerns about its readiness for future conflicts.
At a Glance
- Marine Corps faces cultural and bureaucratic challenges in drone integration
- Emphasis on human-machine teaming (HMT) for operational success
- Global conflicts highlight the urgency for drone adoption
- Financial constraints hinder agile adoption of drone technology
Cultural and Bureaucratic Hurdles Impede Progress
At the 2025 Modern Day Marine symposium, Marine Corps leadership highlighted the institutional barriers slowing drone adoption. According to Business Insider, Lt. Gen. Benjamin Watson explained that the Corps’ acquisition system is structured around minimizing risk to zero—making rapid technological advancement nearly impossible. Col. Sean Hoewing further noted the need to build a “persistent ecosystem” of drone capabilities to remain competitive.
Funding priorities also complicate matters. With major initiatives like Force Design 2030 and infrastructure overhauls underway, the Corps faces difficult decisions on how to allocate limited resources. As Business Insider reported, drone investment has often taken a backseat to more traditional military needs.
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Embracing Human-Machine Teaming
One of the Marine Corps’ strategic goals is developing effective human-machine teaming (HMT)—the collaboration between humans and semi-autonomous systems in combat environments. According to a report from the Atlantic Council, the “loyal wingman” model is a key example: it places human pilots in control of multiple uncrewed aerial systems, maximizing flexibility and speed while reducing risk.
The same report stresses that the Department of Defense must broaden its HMT definition to include not only physical drones but AI agents as well. Building trust through real-world experimentation is essential to refining these systems’ roles and ensuring their effectiveness in operational environments.
Initiatives to Accelerate Drone Integration
To push past institutional inertia, the Corps has launched several innovation pilots. As announced by Marines.mil, the Marine Corps recently unveiled the Attack Drone Team (ADT)—a task force focused on improving offensive and defensive drone strategy. It also formed the Drone Advisory Group, enabling rapid feedback between junior Marines and top commanders on drone tech and tactics.
Beginning in 2026, the Corps will implement competitive attack drone units at each base. These teams will train with first-person-view (FPV) drones modeled after systems used successfully by Ukrainian forces. According to Business Insider, this grassroots approach aims to cultivate drone proficiency at the squad level and accelerate innovation from the ground up.
The Urgency of Modernization
Military leaders agree the stakes couldn’t be higher. The war in Ukraine has demonstrated how small, agile drones can shift battlefield dynamics. As Business Insider points out, China’s advancements in drone warfare and AI place added pressure on the U.S. to modernize quickly.
If the Marine Corps hopes to maintain its edge, it must confront what internal leaders call the “Valley of Death”—a bureaucratic zone where promising technology often fails to reach deployment. Success will require rethinking acquisition policies, empowering junior innovators, and dedicating real resources to a tech-savvy future.
