Marines demonstrate manned-unmanned teaming with Navy

The Marine Corps and Navy demonstrated manned-unmanned teaming with Marine helicopters and the MQ-8C Fire Scout during a March 10 exercise at Naval Air Facility El Centro, CA.

Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron One’s UH-1Y and AH-1Z helicopters conducted attacks while ground control assisted with target detection and strike coordination using an MQ-8C, according to today’s press release.

“As the exercise in El Centro progressed, the Navy-Marine Corps team became more proficient in planning, communicating and coordinating effective fires from manned and unmanned rotary-wing aircraft,” the press release states.

The Marine Corps continues to develop manned-unmanned tactics to better align with Commandant David Berger’s planning guidance, which calls on the service to invest more heavily in unmanned systems.

“The proliferation of unmanned rotary wing platforms on U.S. Navy ships makes integration with Marine rotary wing and the MQ-8C a likelihood in the littoral environment,” the press release states.