U.S. Marine Corps ACVs to Counter Drones with Anduril Jammer Package
The U.S. Marine Corps’ new amphibious assault vehicles will receive jammers to defeat unmanned aerial systems through a program that is set to begin this fall. The Portfolio Acquisition Executive – Marine Corps released a solicitation on Monday identifying the service’s interest in pursuing Anduril’s Pulsar-Lite to meet an Urgent Statement of Need for a counter-unmanned aerial system. This follows an initial notice of intent announced in July for the mounting of the Anduril electronic warfare system onto the Amphibious Combat Vehicle. “The ACV platform lacks the ability to effectively execute any part of the kill-chain (detect, track, identify, or
Amphibious Combat Vehicles with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, III Marine Expeditionary Force, arrive at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, July 23, 2026. US Marine Corps photo The U.S. Marine Corps’ new amphibious assault vehicles will receive jammers to defeat unmanned aerial systems through a program that is set to begin this fall.
The Portfolio Acquisition Executive – Marine Corps released a solicitation on Monday identifying the service’s interest in pursuing Anduril’s Pulsar-Lite to meet an Urgent Statement of Need for a counter-unmanned aerial system. This follows an initial notice of intent announced in July for the mounting of the Anduril electronic warfare system onto the Amphibious Combat Vehicle.
“The ACV platform lacks the ability to effectively execute any part of the kill-chain (detect, track, identify, or defeat) against increasingly prolific [small unmanned aerial system] threats,” reads the July notice of intent.
Monday’s release clarified the requirements expected for the rapid integration of these C-UAS capabilities onto the ACV. According to the service’s drone downing needs, Anduril’s Pulsar-L should be able to detect group 1 and 2 UAS two miles away. The system is expected to be able to jam these threats from two miles away.
Anduril’s Pulsar-Lite. Anduril photo The American defense firm describes the Pulsar-L as an expeditionary system developed to autonomously defeat drones. Existing contracts between Anduril and the Army were also cited in the Marine Corps’ choice of the system.
Small UAS have become increasingly prolific in recent years from their performance against conventional forces in the Russian Invasion of Ukraine. The mass deployment and production of these drones has enabled smaller units to hold much larger formations at risk.
The Marine Corps plans to begin integration efforts within the first quarter of fiscal year 2027, which begins in October and ends late December. Fifty units of Pulsar-L are expected to be delivered within the first year of the contract, and further production is required to support additional counter drone efforts.
ACVs geared for electronic warfare represent the service’s latest development in standing up forces capable of protecting Marines against small drone threats. Both variants of the Marine Air Defense Integrated System, the Mark 1 and Mark 2, are primarily for defeating close-in threats such as drones. The fielded Light-MADIS already deploys a jamming capability for the formations derived from Force Design. At times, these electronic warfare jeeps are deployed to the decks of flattops during transits where they may be vulnerable to small drone attacks.
