Modern Problems and Modern Solutions

Undisclosed Location, US Central Command Area of Operations – Just a little under ten years ago, deployed Marines on patrol would have their eyes scanning for the greatest threat at the time – Improvised Explosive Devices. In Afghanistan alone, just over 350 coalition members died at the hands of IEDs. Today, those forward deployed to the Central Command area of Operations have their eyes directed upwards, looking to the skies for the newest threat – Unmanned Aerial Systems, more commonly known as Drones.

Various threat networks throughout the region have utilized drones to conduct surveillance on coalition forces. Even more recently, these networks are arming their drones with explosives in order to generate casualties and damage to both military and civilian infrastructure. The ease at which any individual can acquire or purchase a commercial drone off the shelf has lent itself to the heightened threat.

To face this evolving threat, the Marine Corps has reached into its tool kit and employed one of its lesser-known resources – Low Altitude Air Defense (LAAD).