The U.S. Marine Corps unveiled Ground Combat Element 2040, a plan detailing how Marines will fight in increasingly complex battles shaped by rapid technological change. The strategy focuses on littoral and anti-access scenarios, particularly relevant to a potential Pacific conflict, though no specific adversary is named. Lt. Gen. Jay M. Bargeron highlighted the need for modernization amid the rise of peer-level threats like China and Russia.
The plan emphasizes the growing drone threat, which has created no-go zones for both Russian and Ukrainian forces. To counter this, the Marines are implementing layered active and passive counter-UAS measures at every level, from squads to companies. Key initiatives include the Organic Counter-small UAS (O-CsUAS) kits for squads, frangible 5.56mm ammunition for aerial targets, and semi-fixed site systems like "Home Alone." Bargeron noted the Marines have already procured 400,000 frangible rounds and are training troops on their use.
The strategy also aims to enhance squad-level lethality by integrating precision strike capabilities, allowing Marines to engage targets up to 20 kilometers away. Current efforts include deploying Neros Archer FPV drones, already in use in Ukraine, to provide organic fire support. The plan outlines a phased modernization approach across three overlapping periods, with AI and autonomous systems playing a central role in later stages.
