DefenceTalkGeneral Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) completed the transfer of two MQ-9A Reaper Block 5 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) to the U.S. Marine Corps on October 15, 2021. The two aircraft have been operated by the USMC since 2018 under a Company Owned/Company Operated (COCO) lease agreement in support of an Urgent Operational Need. The […]

DefenceTalkBAE Systems has received a $113.5 million contract from the U.S. Marine Corps for an additional 26 Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACV) under the Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) phase of the program. This award brings the total vehicle orders for the ACV to 116, and moves the program closer to full-rate production. The ACV is a […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-marines-orders-amphibious-combat-vehicles-from-bae-systems-74307/

With a little help from the Navy, Marines are ringing in the New Year with a new set of tools to manage their complete inventory of ammunition and associated services through a revamped all-in-one software suite. An information technology development team at Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Corona Division in Southern California recently upgraded and […]

DefenceTalkThe United States has sent a Marine Corps artillery battery into Syria to help defeat the Islamic State group in Raqa, the capital of their supposed caliphate, a US official said. The official said troops from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit had deployed a battery of 155mm Howitzers to an outpost in Syria. The Marines […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-marines-deploy-artillery-battery-to-syria-69428/

DefenceTalkThe US Marine Corps said Tuesday it has sent a squadron of F-35B fighter jets to Japan, marking the first operational overseas deployment for the controversial aircraft that is under scrutiny from President-elect Donald Trump. The deployment of the 10 planes to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni on Honshu Island marks a major milestone for […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-marines-send-f-35-stealth-fighter-squadron-to-japan-68788/

DefenceTalkU.S. Marine Corps has begun a full reset of its CH-53E Super Stallion heavy lift helicopters, an effort aimed at significantly increasing the number of operationally fit aircraft and addressing systemic issues, which in recent years drove the platform’s readiness level to unsustainable depths. The issue first came to light following the January 2014 crash […]https://www.defencetalk.com/usmc-launches-ch-53e-refurbishment-upgrade-program-67996/

DefenceTalkThe Marine Corps plans to buy or lease existing active protection systems (APS) for its M1 Abrams tanks that are vulnerable to proliferating anti-tank guided missiles. Specifically, the Marine Corps will test the Trophy APS system developed by Israeli defense firm RAFAEL and sold in the United States by DRS Technologies, Lt. Gen. Robert Walsh, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/usmc-plans-to-buy-trophy-active-protection-systems-for-m1-tanks-67255/

DefenceTalkAV-8B Harriers assigned to the “Greyhawks” of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 161 (Reinforced), which launched from the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), the Essex Amphibious Ready Group’s flag ship, conducted strike missions in Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) Aug. 17. The Harriers executed strike missions to dismantle and ultimately […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-marine-av-8b-harriers-join-anti-isil-air-strikes-65064/

DefenceTalkSix U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II jet aircraft arrived Monday evening aboard the USS WASP off the coast of the United States’ Eastern Seaboard to mark the beginning of the first shipboard phase of the F-35B Operational Test (OT-1). The at-sea period will continue aboard USS WASP for the next two weeks, with fleet […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-marine-corps-begins-f-35b-operational-trials-64249/

DefenceTalkSpain said Friday it was starting negotiations with Washington to host a permanent US Marines intervention force for deployment on missions to Africa. The Spanish government said it was ready to permanently extend an agreement under which the force has been based at Moron de la Frontera, near Seville in southern Spain. The government approved […]https://www.defencetalk.com/spain-negotiates-permanent-us-marines-africa-force-62220/