Intelligence Support Equipment

The Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) line item (LI 4757) in the Department of the Navy's FY 2026 budget request supports the procurement of a range of small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS) for the U.S. Marine Corps. This program is a key component of the Marine Corps' Force Modernization initiative, providing battalion, company, and detachment-level units with scalable airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition (RSTA) capabilities. The overarching goal is to enhance situational awareness, improve force protection, and support the Marine Corps' evolving operational concepts such as Distributed Maritime Operations, Littoral Operations in a Contested Environment, and Expeditionary Advance Base Operations.

The Family of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (FoSUAS) program is structured around three main categories: Short Range/Short Endurance (SR/SE), Medium Range/Medium Endurance (MR/ME), and Long Range/Long Endurance (LR/LE) systems. Each category is tailored to meet specific operational requirements at various echelons. SR/SE systems, with a range of 5-10 km and up to 50 minutes of endurance, are designed to provide rapid RSTA coverage in urban and challenging terrain, reducing response times and supporting platoon and squad-level operations.

MR/ME systems, with a range of 10-20 km and up to 4 hours of endurance, offer persistent RSTA, laser targeting, and communications relay capabilities to company-level units and specialized platoons, such as Route Clearance and Combat Logistics Patrols.

Long Range/Long Endurance (LR/LE) systems are a critical focus for FY 2026. These systems have a range of 20-50 km and an endurance of up to 6 hours, providing battalion-level units with organic multi-sensor RSTA capabilities. LR/LE platforms are also used by Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) and are integral to supporting precision fires and maneuver elements. The LR/LE systems are considered primary enablers for Organic Precision Fires and are intended for deployment in Indo-Pacific Command and other theaters, directly supporting the Marine Corps' modernization and operational agility.

Short Range/Short Endurance (SR/SE) systems remain a priority for maintaining battlespace awareness at lower echelons. The FY 2026 budget emphasizes the importance of affordable, attritable, and technologically advanced assets that can be rapidly fielded and replaced as needed. These systems align with the Marine Corps' sensing strategy and contribute to the broader Uncrewed/Unmanned Roadmap, leveraging commercial and industry advancements to ensure the force remains technologically current and operationally flexible.

The Medium Range/Medium Endurance (MR/ME) systems, while not a primary focus in the FY 2026 request, have historically provided essential capabilities for company-level units, including persistent surveillance, IED detection, and communications relay. The procurement history indicates significant investment in MR/ME systems in prior years, supporting a layered approach to RSTA across the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF).

Additional components supported under this line item include Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) systems, Single Operator Man Portable Ground Control Stations (SOMGCS/THS), specialized payloads such as PUMA SIGINT and Laser Markers, and system-specific components such as WASP IV and PUMA. These elements ensure that the SUAS family remains adaptable to evolving mission requirements and technological advancements, supporting the Marine Corps' goal of rapid capability integration and fielding.

A notable aspect of the FY 2026 procurement strategy is the shift away from specifying exact quantities of SR/SE and LR/LE systems in the budget request. Instead, the program utilizes available budget authority to achieve authorized acquisition objectives as rapidly as possible, with final system quantities determined based on Fleet input during the execution year. This approach provides flexibility to respond to changing operational needs and technological developments, ensuring that Marine Corps units receive the most relevant and effective unmanned air systems for their missions.