Marine Special Operators Rely Heavily on Hand-Launched Drones

April 14, 2011

If every marine is a rifleman, then every marine special operator is an unmanned aircraft system pilot.

The newest component of U.S. Special Operations Command has quickly embraced drone technology, particularly the small hand-launched aircraft that weigh less than 20 pounds and fly at speeds under 100 knots.

“They are being used actively in theater by our guys. We’re having a lot of success with them,” said Jon “Blade” Hackett, unmanned aircraft systems program manager at Marine Corps Special Operations Command.

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