U.S. Marine Corps Seeks Suppliers for 10,000 FPV Drones Under $4,000

The U.S. Marine Corps plans to purchase 10,000 FPV drones, each priced under $4,000.

According to The War Zone, the Marine Corps aims to significantly enhance the tactical capabilities of infantry units at the platoon and company levels, treating FPV drones as a low-cost but highly effective tool for reconnaissance and precision strikes.

The technical requirements specify a maximum flight range of up to 20 kilometers.

The $4,000 figure is a recommended price ceiling and does not include additional equipment such as ground control stations, FPV goggles, batteries, or systems for coordinated “swarm” operations.

A key requirement is that the drones be simple for troops to adapt to carry payloads for combat use.

Modification and repair must be carried out using standard tools without involving the manufacturers, enabling rapid restoration of equipment directly within military units.

The department emphasizes that these requirements were shaped by a detailed study of Ukraine’s experience in using FPV drones.

The practices of Ukrainian forces were taken into account, particularly their ability to independently modify drones in field conditions, adapt power systems, and improve strike capabilities – effectively turning civilian technologies into powerful weapons.

It is worth noting that the U.S. military is currently активно expanding the use of drones at the platoon and company levels. To better understand the specifics of their operation, troops are conducting repairs and assembling drones themselves directly within their units.

In August 2025, U.S. Army personnel employed FPV drones during training exercises at the Grafenwöhr training area in Germany.

The drones were operated by soldiers from the combat team of the 1st Armored Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, who provided support to infantry units during the exercises.

Militarnyi reported that the United States plans to increase the production and adoption of low-cost drones to maintain battlefield superiority.

The Department of Defense emphasized that it will rapidly introduce innovations in unmanned systems developed by U.S. companies into the armed forces.