As the global arms race intensifies, the United States Marine Corps has made a bold move to establish a specialized attack drone team. This new Marine Corps Attack Drone Team (MCADT), based at Quantico, Virginia, is a timely and strategic initiative aimed squarely at countering China’s aggressive and accelerating drone capabilities. It’s about time America got serious about countering the technological threats we face from adversaries who seek to undermine our national security.
The MCADT will focus on deploying advanced, yet cost-effective, armed first-person view (FPV) drones. These drones deliver lethal firepower at a fraction of the cost of traditional military hardware. According to the Marine Corps, these drones can strike targets at ranges of up to 12.5 miles for under $5,000—a stark contrast to multimillion-dollar conventional weapons systems. This kind of smart, effective spending is exactly what President Trump’s America First military strategy calls for—strengthening our defenses without breaking the bank.
Maj. Alejandro Tavizon, officer-in-charge of MCADT, emphasized the urgency of this initiative: “MCADT is committed to rapidly integrating armed first-person view drones into the Fleet Marine Force, enhancing small-unit lethality and providing organic capabilities that warfighters currently lack.” Tavizon understands precisely what’s at stake—American lives and American dominance in the face of an increasingly hostile world.
This isn’t just about keeping up with our rivals—it’s about outpacing them. Brett Velicovich, an Army veteran and drone warfare expert, warned Fox News Digital that America is playing catch-up in this critical arena. Velicovich pointed out that in Ukraine, inexpensive drones are destroying Russian tanks and armored vehicles worth millions. If we’re serious about maintaining America’s dominance, we need to produce drones at scale and quickly ramp up our capabilities.
Right now, the numbers are alarming. According to a Wall Street Journal report, the U.S. can produce up to 100,000 drones per year—a number dwarfed by China and Russia. Putin himself boasted that Russia delivered over 1.5 million drones last year alone, including thousands of advanced FPV drones sent daily to combat zones. China’s DJI, meanwhile, controls roughly 70% of the worldwide drone market, giving Beijing unprecedented surveillance capabilities. Craig Singleton, from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, warned that DJI drones are essentially “data collectors for Beijing,” posing an undeniable national security threat.
Singleton stated clearly that the United States cannot afford to lose this drone arms race: “Success will depend on scaling production, protecting sensitive supply chains, and turbocharging innovation. It’s not just about building drones—it’s about fielding smarter, cheaper, and more resilient swarms faster than Beijing.” He’s absolutely right. Our national security depends on our ability to out-innovate and out-build our adversaries.
President Trump has consistently championed an America First approach to defense—prioritizing border security, manufacturing revival, and ending endless foreign wars. Investing in these powerful, cost-effective drone technologies aligns perfectly with that vision. It strengthens our military capabilities without entangling us in costly foreign conflicts, and it bolsters American manufacturing at a time when we must reclaim our production capacities from hostile foreign powers.
We can’t afford to be complacent when adversaries like China and Russia are aggressively expanding their drone warfare capabilities. The Marine Corps’ establishment of the MCADT is a crucial step forward, but we must do more. We must ensure sustained investments, secure our supply chains from foreign infiltration, and rapidly scale up domestic drone manufacturing.
In the coming months, the Marine Corps and the Army’s elite 75th Ranger Regiment will showcase their drone skills at the Military Drone Crucible Championship in Florida. This isn’t just a competition—it’s a demonstration of America’s resolve to remain the world’s preeminent military power. It’s our chance to prove to China and Russia that America will not be outmatched or intimidated.
America First means American strength. It means being prepared, technologically superior, and uncompromisingly focused on our national security. The Marine Corps Attack Drone Team is a powerful step in the right direction, ensuring that America remains strong, secure, and ready to face the challenges of today and tomorrow.
