U.S. Marines examined and flew unmanned systems during a vendor day at Drone Crucible 26.3 in Starke, Florida, as the service worked to build operator proficiency and gather lessons for future training and operations.
Marines with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division participated in the United States National Drone Association event on September 27, according to the official DVIDS release posted October 2.
The footage shows several unmanned aircraft and control systems being demonstrated, handled and flown during the vendor-day portion of the event. DVIDS described Drone Crucible 26.3 as an effort to build proficiency with unmanned systems, conduct tactical experimentation and develop lessons that can improve unit readiness and inform future operations.
The presence of a particular vendor or system in the footage does not establish that the Marine Corps selected, purchased, fielded, deployed or used it in combat. DVIDS separately identifies the aircraft in the featured photograph as a THOR Elbit Systems drone participating in the event; Zark News is not making any procurement or performance claim about that system.
Source and usage note
DVIDS identifies Video ID 1025205, VIRIN 260927-M-TS416-2001, and matching Photo ID 9980907 as public-domain U.S. Marine Corps visual information. Zark News has embedded the original DVIDS video without cropping, narration, captions or a logo overlay. The featured image is an unaltered DVIDS rendition of Photo ID 9980907.
Photo credit: U.S. Marine Corps / Lance Cpl. Hunter J. Kuester via DVIDS.
The appearance of U.S. Department of War (DoW) visual information does not imply or constitute DoW endorsement.
DVIDS notes that publication does not waive the privacy or publicity rights of people shown and prohibits use that implies endorsement of any organization, vendor, product or service. See the current DVIDS copyright, trademark and privacy/publicity notice.