U.S. Marines Working on Mega-Drone That Carries Same Weapons As F-35

US Marines is expecting to achieve initial operation capability by 2024 of its 'mega drone' that can carry same amount of weapons as an F-35.

US Marines are looking to obtain a ‘mega-drone’ that will be able to launch from land or sea, and carry the same amount of weapons as an F-35. Further, “I want to see a tech demonstration flight of the mega drone by 2018” Lt. Gen. Jon Davis, the Marine Corps’ deputy commandant for aviation was quoted as saying DOD Buzz Thursday.

“I hope that mega-drone would be able to work with the Marine Corps new F-35B Lightning II 5th-generation fighter on missions,” Davis said on Wednesday at the Unmanned Systems Defense conference, USA.

“It is just to assure that the Marines have the very best protection wherever they go,

whatever they do. Manned-unmanned teaming is not just with attack helicopters, it’s with jets, it’s with grunts,” Davis said in the conference.

Mega-drones that would serve Marines’ requirements include the Bell-Textron V-247, the Lockheed Martin Kaman-built K-Max, or the Tactically Exploited Reconnaissance Node (Tern) that sits on its tail so it can launch and recover on a ship’s deck.

“Do I think it will replace manned platforms? No, but I think we have to integrate, look for capabilities, cover down our gaps, our seams, that are out there,” he said.

“Frankly, no matter how many airplanes I have, it is not possible to get 24/7 coverage with my manned platforms, especially from my sea base. If we do distributed operations, we’re going to need all the game we can bring,” he said.

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