The U.S. Marine Corps is pursuing a new anti tank loitering munition to field for the Fleet Marine Force, a program built around the Organic Precision Fires–Medium, or OPF-M.
This is about giving Marines a compact, enduring weapon that can reach armored targets beyond traditional line of sight.
“Marines will employ OPF-M at the tactical level to enable engagement of armored targets beyond the range of direct fire weapons while minimizing collateral damage and exposure to enemy direct and indirect fires during distributed operations,” a Request for White Paper from Marine Corps Systems Command states.
The phrasing emphasizes a shift toward precision and safer engagement in dispersed operations, a principle supporters say fits the current strategic environment and the need to deter aggressive advances.
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The RFW deadline for responses is May 26, a signal that the service intends to move quickly in evaluating capabilities and industrial options.
The urgency mirrors a broader push across the department to field effective systems with speed and reliability.
Under the requested specifications, the drone would have a loiter time of at least 20 minutes, while the warhead must be powerful enough to destroy armored vehicles or at least achieve a mobility kill.
The munition itself should weigh less than 35 pounds, and less than 20 pounds for the ground control station, the request states.
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These constraints reflect a careful balance between portability, firepower, and controllability in a lightweight package suitable for Marine infantry teams.
The Marine Corps wants the drone to feature automatic target tracking, which enables it to follow a moving target autonomously without human intervention. Nonetheless, OPF-M “shall be a Man in the Loop system,” the RFW specified.
This blend of automation and human oversight aims to preserve decision making in critical moments while leveraging machine speed for engagement.
Navigational waypoints could be set before launch and in mid-flight, according to the document. The Marine Corps also envisions a distributed system in which control of a drone could be handed from one ground control station to the next.
The aim is resilience on the battlefield, where control nodes may shift and troops disperse under pressure.
Interestingly, the RFW also lists several potential future capabilities for OPF-M that include targeting more than enemy tanks.
For example, drones could be equipped for “maritime targets, drones, personnel formations, advanced sensor packages, electromagnetic effects, and other types of payloads,” the document states.
The openness to broader payloads suggests a modular approach that could adapt to evolving threats and mission sets, from coastal operations to urban warfare.
Other future enhancements include automatic target recognition, functionality in GPS-denied environments, frequency hopping to avoid jamming of command links and enabling a single ground station to control multiple drones.
The breadth of envisioned features signals a push toward robust, survivable systems that can operate where signals are contested and information is scarce.
The RFW suggests the Marine Corps wants to move fairly fast on the project. Respondents are asked to estimate how long it will take to produce 50 all up round munitions and 10 ground control station kits.
They should also specify their potential OPF-M production capacity for FY2027-28 as well as FY2029-2031. The accelerated timeline is part of a broader mandate to maintain a cutting edge in battlefield sensors and precision strike.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Army awarded AeroVironment a $186 million contract in February for Switchblade loitering munitions, including some armed with explosively formed penetrator warheads to destroy armored vehicles.
This shows a competitive push across services to deploy light, persistent munitions capable of taking on armor at standoff ranges.
The degree of investment underscores a shared emphasis on portable, effective anti armor solutions that can be deployed quickly by ground units.
AeroVironment this month also announced the debut of a new drone, known as MAYHEM 10, with the capacity to carry out reconnaissance, electronic warfare and strike missions, expanding upon its Switchblade family that is already being fielded by the Army.
The expanding portfolio signals a rapid expansion in the commercial sector’s ability to deliver multi mission platforms that can integrate with existing command and control networks.
For supporters of President Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth, these developments reflect a principled push toward military readiness and modernization that matches the urgency of today’s threats.
The rapid pace aims to deter aggression, preserve soldier safety, and ensure that frontline Marines have tools that can be deployed with speed and confidence.
The focus on portability, loiter time, and targeting capability is the kind of practical innovation that resonates with a country seeking strength and decisive leadership.
As the program moves forward, critics will watch closely how the Marine Corps balances autonomy with human oversight, how the platforms perform in GPS contested environments, and whether manufacturing can keep up with demand.
The conversation now centers on how to translate ambitious specifications into reliable, field ready capabilities that can deter adversaries and protect Marines on distant shores and in near shore theaters.
The emphasis remains clear: empower the Fleet Marine Force with precision, resilience, and speed, so they can prevail in complex battlespace environments.
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