The US Marine Corps is expanding counter-drone training by teaching Marines how to use familiar service weapons against small unmanned aerial systems. A three-day training event at Twentynine Palms, California, brought together personnel from the 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions to practice engaging simulated drone threats with rifles, shotguns, and grenade launchers. The initiative reflects a growing recognition that countering small drones cannot rely exclusively on sophisticated electronic warfare equipment or dedicated air-defense interceptors. Small UAS have become a prominent feature of modern military operations, providing adversaries with relatively inexpensive tools for surveillance, targeting, and attack. Their ability to fly at low altitude and maneuver rapidly can make them difficult to detect and engage. The Marine Corps training was therefore designed to give personnel practical experience in dealing with these threats using weapons that are already part of their standard equipment. During the exercise, Marines practiced against simulated aerial targets at extremely short ranges. Some engagements took place at distances of approximately 20 meters, or 65 feet. The drones used in training could travel at speeds of up to 90 miles per hour, equivalent to about 145 kilometers per hour. These conditions required participants to react quickly and accurately while tracking small, fast-moving targets. The training environment provides Marines with an opportunity to understand how conventional weapons can be employed when a drone enters close engagement range. Different weapons offer different characteristics. Rifles provide a readily available option for individual personnel, while shotguns may offer advantages in certain close-range situations. Grenade launchers can provide another potential engagement method depending on the threat and tactical circumstances. Practicing these techniques can help Marines develop the judgment required to determine when and how to respond to an approaching unmanned aircraft. The exercise also reflects a wider shift in military training priorities. As drones become more common across conflict zones, frontline troops may increasingly encounter unmanned systems during routine operations rather than only during major engagements. Giving personnel basic counter-UAS skills can therefore create an additional defensive layer around units and positions. Dedicated counter-drone systems remain important, but they may not always be available immediately where a small drone is detected. Conventional weapons can provide an additional response option in situations where the threat is close enough to engage. The Twentynine Palms training demonstrates the Marine Corps’ effort to adapt existing combat skills to emerging battlefield realities. By exposing Marines to realistic speeds and engagement distances, the service is working to improve individual readiness and ensure that troops can respond quickly when small drones appear in operational environments.
