Marine Corps Wants Anti-Drone Weapons With Non-Kinetic Capabilities

The U.S. Marine Corps is soliciting industry proposals for counter-drone technology to protect installations amid autonomous attacks on Middle East-stationed troops.

The service branch specified that it wants systems combining anti-drone weapons with jammers and other non-kinetic capabilities to minimize collateral damage from falling debris and explosives, Defense One reported.

Such systems also need to detect, track and identify incoming drones, according to the solicitation.

Ukrainian forces are using similar non-kinetic technology to prevent Russian drones from damaging power stations.

The Marine Corps, meanwhile, already uses Light Marine Air Defense Integrated Systems, which comprise two vehicles equipped with jammers and weapons. The service branch is requesting more than $32.5 million to procure L-MADIS units.

News of the solicitation comes after the U.S. Army awarded RTX a $75 million contract to supply 600 Coyote 2C anti-drone interceptors.

Earlier, the Army posted a request for information indicating that it could purchase 6,000 Coyote Block II systems and 700 Block III variants carrying non-kinetic payloads.