In what the Marine Corps called “a significant leap forward for aerial warfare,” pilots from Miramar are testing the use of combat drones launched from helicopters operating far from targets.
Marine UH-1Y Venom reconnaissance helicopters and AH-1Z Viper gunships now have the capability of acting as airborne drone “motherships.” The helicopters can also take over control of ground-launched drones.
The Marine Corps said in a news release Wednesday that the goal is to keep air crews safe while “pushing the lethal edge of the battlefield out to where the enemy is” with inexpensive but lethal drones.
“We are still providing our ground support, and close air support, but in a way that lets the drones close with and destroy the enemy, rather than putting our Marines in harm’s way,” said Sgt. Matthew Pocklington, a UH-1Y crew chief.
In recent exercises near Twentynine Palms, Marines tested launching a Neros Archer first-person view drone from a flying UH-1Y Venom.
The Marines said the new tactic gives commanders a scalable, cost-effective option to counter a wide range of threats without risking aircraft or expending expensive munitions on every target.
The U.S. military is rapidly deploying drones based on lessons from their successful use by Ukraine in battling the Russian invasion.
