MARSOC pursuing new tech for ‘rough and nasty’ fights in the Pacific

Marine Raiders may be deployed to the tactical edge in future conflicts with China in the Pacific region, and leaders at Marine Forces Special Operations Command are looking to equip their commandos with new technologies to help them get the job done.

Special operations forces are expected to be part of the Corps’ so-called stand-in force operating inside adversaries’ weapons engagement zones. In that sense, the fight might not be that different than World War II. However, new technologies are creating new challenges and opportunities, suggested Maj. Gen. Peter Huntley, commander of MARSOC.

“Everything’s the same but everything’s changing, right? So, you know, the characteristics … that are going to be in the fight at the tactical edge, it’s going to be very similar to what, you know, our grandfathers saw right in the Pacific campaign. It’s going to be freaking rough and nasty and all that stuff like that. So the direct fire engagements are going to be the direct fire engagements. However, in a tactical situation, your ability to sense that tactical opponent is going to be a lot more complex — whether it’s small [unmanned aerial systems], whether it’s … better vision, whether it’s a small tactical unit being able to have an operational impact because they can sense something because of increased technology, and they’re going to be able to push that information back into a bigger joint force at the operational level,” he told DefenseScoop during a meeting with reporters at the Modern Day Marine conference.

Raiders’ roles won’t just be to shoot and kill the enemy, officials have emphasized. They’ll also be expected to enable joint fires and maneuver, maritime domain sensing, “multi-domain effects,” special reconnaissance, and multi-discipline intelligence fusion.

Huntley envisions AI capabilities lending a helping hand for those types of SOF missions.

“For us, I see the biggest place is the aggregation of data, right? The automation … of the intelligence cycle and how to be at the cutting edge of that. Because that’s going to … drive the speed of your [observation, decision-making and action] loop,” he said. “If you’re a slow adapter on that front, you’re going to find yourself on the wrong side of that equation, and that’s not a good place to be, right? So for us to be able to be a small accelerator, if you will, for the stand-in force, to be able to illuminate, be able to aggregate that data, and be able to push that data, that’s where I see AI — as it comes on and becomes more prominent — that’s where I see that having the most profound impact.”

MARSOC is also adding small drones to its arsenal. Huntley said SOF is on the cusp of a “breakthrough” in that area, thanks in part to investments in the technology made by larger components of the Defense Department.

“In terms of loitering munitions, we have our initial capability now. I’ll leave it at that for now. But we have that capability now, it’s layered into the force. For small UAS, yes, we have a capability. However, we’re getting ready to make a breakthrough here … Where it’s going is where the small UASs at the tactical edge are ubiquitous, right? Whether it’s for the purpose of sensing, that’s the tactical fight I was talking about, or whether it’s for sensing and lethality,” he told DefenseScoop. “For the bigger stuff — that’s been around for a while — but the small stuff, you know, at the squad or team or individual level, I think we’re getting ready to achieve that.”

Lt. Col. Matt Deffenbaugh, commanding officer of 3rd Marine Raider Support Battalion, said loitering munitions — also known as one-way attack UAS or kamikaze drones — provide another “organic” precision weapon for special operations forces.

“Being able to push that, like every other capability, how far forward can we push it and what’s the lowest level we can get that capability to? And so that provides a small team with a lethal capability that they’re able to put on the forward edge of the battlefield without having to have a large logistics train or large platforms to carry the system into combat with them,” he told DefenseScoop.

MARSOC’s interests in the unmanned systems space aren’t limited to loitering munitions, first-person-view drones and quadcopters — although those are in demand.

“Don’t just think about things that fly. Think about things that go on water, things that go underwater, things that go on the ground,” Huntley said.

However, MARSOC isn’t just looking for tech wizards to join its ranks. Raiders have to meet high physical standards and be prepared for “brutal” warfare, he noted.

“How we select and assess people is … you’re gonna have to be tough, rough and all that kind of stuff — 100 percent. You’re gonna have to know your weapon, your personal weapon system. You’re probably gonna have additional systems that you’re gonna have to be able to employ, whether it’s a UAS or fill in the blank — who knows what’s coming next. But also you’re gonna … have to be thinking at the tactical [about] how do I live, thrive and survive, and then how do I create effects for the — that will enable the joint force? All that’s happening not at [Maj.] Gen. Huntley’s level. It’s not happening at even the task force commander’s level. It’s happening at team leader or team chief level, at the … captains, the majors, the staff sergeants, or the gunnies,” Huntley said. “It’s probably gonna be an element that’s pretty damn small as well. Like, it’s pretty darn small, like maybe a handful of people, right? So that’s kind of the way we look at it … That’s the thinking that’s driving kind of our force development.”