Washington: The US Marine Corps released a revised aviation strategy that focuses on using autonomous systems, drones and artificial intelligence-driven software to ensure its aircraft fleet can survive in a fierce war zone. And the Corps is also shifting its procurement plans for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to buy more carrier-based F-35Cs and fewer of the B variants that can hover and vertically land.
The Corps billed its 2025 Marine Corps Aviation Plan, the service’s first in three years, as a “roadmap to enhancing operational readiness and ensuring Marine aviation remains a lethal force.” A centrepiece of the plan, signed by deputy commandant for aviation Lt Gen Bradford Gering, is a modernisation strategy the Corps calls “Project Eagle.”
“We are committed to shaping a future aviation force that is ready, resilient and capable of rapidly responding to emerging threats, wherever they may arise,” Col Derek Brannon of Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation said. “Project Eagle builds on the progress we’ve made, and it prepares us to embrace technological innovation while ensuring we can deliver combat power across all domains.”
Project Eagle focuses on using advanced technology like AI alongside new concepts for generating Marine airpower, such as distributed aviation operations and decision-centric aviation operations, to ensure its aircraft can fight and operate in highly contested environments.
Distributed aviation operations focus on coordinating how the Marine Corps uses its aviation squadrons, command-and-control agencies, aviation logistics and ground support units, spread out across battlefields in a way that makes it harder for enemies to target them. This can include pushing command-and-control authorities to lower levels and keeping forces moving.
