TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif: Earlier this year, the First Battalion, First Marine Division successfully integrated the Skydio X2D is UAS into their Realistic Urban Training (RUT) exercise. This event, which took place at Marine Air Ground Task Force Combat Center (MAGTFCC) Twentynine Palms, represents the first time that the Marines have used Skydio's autonomous drones in their training.
The event included realistic training scenarios, including operating in urban and mountainous terrain, to prepare for potential Marine operations for their deployment as part of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).
The Marines use of the Skydio X2D small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) helped to improve real time situational awareness that is critical for battlefield success.
“The successful integration of small, autonomous drones into our Realistic Urban Training (RUT) exercise will provide our unit level leaders enhanced situational awareness, arming our Marines with a unique combat advantage. This type of technology will be invaluable for a wide range of tactical applications in support of the missions we execute while on deployment.” said Lt. Col. Frank P. Mease, CO 1/1.
Skydio is a US manufacturer of autonomous drones based in Redwood City, CA and is a trusted drone provider for the US Department of Defense as part of Defense Innovation Unit’s Blue sUAS program. The technology leverages advanced computer vision and artificial intelligence to provide autonomous obstacle avoidance, object detection and tracking, and workflow automation. This capability empowers the warfighter and buys down risk to mission and risk to force. Leveraging this type of technology will give the Marines an organic ISR capability as they deploy as part of an Expeditionary Strike Group aboard amphibious Naval ships.
