June 30, 2023: The U.S. Marine Corps, as part of a major reorganization, is modifying the size and composition of its infantry battalions. Current battalions have 900 marines and the new ones will have 811. This was the result of two years of experiments with different size battalions all containing about the same number of marine infantry but different combinations of new and old heavy weapons as well as some new specialized equipment. While the traditional 81mm mortar platoon remained, there was a new scout platoon (also called a surveillance and reconnaissance unit) equipped with small UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) like quadcopters and small fixed wing models. There are also modern sensors and communications equipment to enable commanders to receive new information more quickly and in sufficient detail. This includes the ability to deal with enemy electronic jamming of communications. To staff these expanded surveillance operations there are a few less infantry. This was an upgrade of the older scout/sniper teams. The new scout personnel can see farther and in adverse conditions while providing target information to the marine infantry of the battalion as well as separate artillery and airstrike (helicopter and fixed wing aircraft) units. The years of experiments tried out different combinations of new sensor and communications equipment to see which were the most practical and effective for the new battalion. Much of the battalion firepower still comes from the assault rifles, machine-guns, grenade launchers and other weapons individual marines’ use. The main improvement is supplying marines with more timely and accurate information about the enemy. This enables marines to maneuver more effectively against an armed enemy attack with greater impact.

The reorganized battalion is an evolutionary, not revolutionary move, and is designed to quickly adapt to new technologies in weapons and equipment. For over a decade the marines have been adopting new weapons and technologies which prompted the use of new tactics. For example, in 2010 the marines decided to replace many of their 5.56mm M249 light machine-guns with a lighter and more compact 5.56mm weapon (the M27 automatic rifle). This reflects a shift in tactics as well as weapons. The M27 is an 84 cm (33 inches) long, 3.6 kg (7.9 pound, empty) automatic weapon that has a forward grip and heavier barrel. It can use a standard 30 or special 100 round magazine, but the barrel cannot be changed (when it becomes overheated from firing too many rounds). The M249 is 104cm (41 inches) long, weighs 6.8 kg (15 pounds) empty and uses belted ammo. The barrel can be changed when it overheats.

The M249 was developed to give the infantry squad more firepower. Army squads have two of them, marine squads had three, on paper, but often went into action with only two, with the third machine-gunner carrying extra ammo and machine-gun barrels. The M249 was a classic machine-gun, designed to put out a lot of bullets. A century ago, the Germans concluded that the machine-gun was the "essence of infantry" and by the end of World War I had created the modern infantry squad. This was a small unit (about ten troops) equipped with a light (portable) machine-gun that was supported by the other members of the squad who carried additional machine-gun ammo and protected the machine-gun operator.

U.S. Army and marine infantry have also developed new tactics because of their lightweight, hand launched Raven UAV. While the Raven can only stay airborne about an hour per sortie, troops have found that this is enough time to do all sorts of useful work, even when there's no fighting going on. This is most of the time.

In Iraq and Afghanistan, the enemy does not want to confront U.S. troops directly (this tends to get you killed). There was an unceasing effort to set up ambushes, plant mines and roadside bombs and fire rockets or mortars at American bases. All of these activities can be messed with by using Raven. U.S. troops know to think like the enemy, and quickly figure out the best ambush positions, or places to plant mines or fire rockets. By sending Ravens over these spots periodically, the enemy is put in danger of being spotted. The enemy knows that this means this often quickly leads to attack from American mortars or helicopter gunships. These mind games, of sneaking around trying to get a shot off at the Americans, are more stressful, and dangerous if the U.S. troops have Ravens. And most of them did.

The army and marines have thousands of RQ-11 Raven UAVs deployed. These two kilogram (4.4 pound) aircraft are popular with combat and non-combat troops alike. Users developed better training methods so operators could get more from their Ravens. Combat troops use them for finding and tracking the enemy, while non-combat troops use Ravens for security (guarding bases or convoys). In both cases, troops have come to use the Raven for more than just getting a look over the hill or around the corner. The distinctive noise of Raven overhead is very unpopular with the enemy below, and often used to scare the enemy away, or make him move to where he can be spotted.

Raven was introduced in 2006. This UAV was relatively inexpensive then ($35,000 each) and could stay in the air for 80 minutes at a time. The Raven is battery powered and largely silent unless flown close to the ground. It carries a color day vidcam, or a two color infrared night camera. It can also carry a laser designator. Both cameras broadcast real time video back to the operator, who controls the Raven via a handheld controller, which uses a hood to shield the display from direct sunlight (thus allowing the operator to clearly see what is down there). The Raven can go as fast as 90 kilometers an hour, but usually cruises at between 40 and 50. It can go as far as 15 kilometers from its controller, and usually flies a preprogrammed route, using GPS for navigation.

The Raven is made of Kevlar, the same material used in helmets and protective vests. On average, Raven can survive about 200 landings before it breaks something. While some Ravens have been shot down, the most common cause of loss is losing the communications link (as the aircraft flies out of range) or a software/hardware failure on the aircraft.

From the very beginning, the Raven changed the way troops fight. With a bird's eye view of the battlefield, commanders could move their troops more quickly, confident that they won't be ambushed, and often with certain knowledge of where the unseen enemy is. The big advantage with Raven is that it’s simple, reliable, and it works. A complete system (controller, spare parts and three UAVs) costs $240,000. The UAV can be quickly taken apart and put into a backpack. It takes off by having the operator start the motor, and then throwing it. This can be done from a moving vehicle, and the Raven is a popular recon tool for convoys. It lands by coming in low and then turning the motor off. Special Forces troops like to use it at night, because the enemy can’t see it, and often can’t hear it either.

The controller allows the operator to capture video, or still pictures, and transmit them to other units or a headquarters. The operator often does this while the Raven is flying a pre-programmed pattern (using GPS). The operator can have the UAV stop and circle, in effect keeping the camera on the same piece of ground below. The operator can also fly the Raven, which is often used when pursuing hostile gunmen.

Recent improvements include a "fail safe" mode, where a Raven that has lost contact with its operator, will immediately head for where it was launched from. There is now a location beacon, so that if one crashes over the hill, it can be quickly found. Another recent improvement is a digital data link, which makes it easier to encrypt the video feed, and makes it possible to operate 16 Ravens within range of each other, rather than only the current four. In development are two new sizes for the Raven, one a little larger (up to 5 kg) and one a little smaller. The larger one would have more range and endurance, plus more powerful sensors. The smaller one would have less, but be easier to carry, and harder for the enemy to spot.

So far, nearly 20,000 Ravens have been produced and production continues. In addition to the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps have adopted it. SOCOM (Special Operations Command) is also a big user. Raven has been exported to more than 30 countries. While commercial quadcopters and smaller military helicopter type UAVs have been introduced, Raven remain in widespread use because it is rugged, easy to use and gets the job done. Despite this, many troops prefer to use commercial quadcopters, which they often purchase themselves.

In 2012 marines began using Switchblade loitering munitions. These first appeared in 2011 as the 2.5 kg (5.5 pound) Switchblade. Nine years later the larger 15 kg (33 pound) Switchblade 600 was introduced and an upgraded version of the original Switchblade became the Switchblade 300. Troops use the smaller Switchblade 300 and larger 600 to find and then attack targets. These are not reusable weapons. The Switchblade 600 was introduced in 2020. It is the latest version of the original Switchblade loitering munition that appeared in 2011. While the original Switchblade weighed a kilogram (2.2 pounds), the latest Switchblade is ten times heavier at 15 kg, can stay in the air for 40 minutes and be controlled up to 80 kilometers from the operator. Top speed is 180 kilometers an hour and more economical cruise speed is closer to 150 kilometers an hour. The heavier warhead can destroy most tanks, although some modern tank designs include protection from top attack. The 600 can be carried into a remote area and used quickly. Switchblade 600 was requested by the U.S. Army for longer range surveillance missions and the option to hit specific small targets, like a building or enemy position. Unlike the earlier Switchblades, the 600 uses a tablet controller with more options, including manipulating the more powerful video camera. Video transmitted back to the operator can be saved and passed on. The operator also has a “wave off” feature in which a quick tap on the controller screen can cause the 600 to abort an attack and be available for another try. The 600 can also be programmed to carry out a mission without operator control. This means there is no control signal for enemy electronic warning systems to detect or jam. In this case when time is up the 600 self-destructs. This guidance option is the only one that can get past the occasional Russian use of their Strizh-3 UAV signal jammer. Production of Switchblade ceased in 2023 because cheaper, more flexible commercial quadcopters could do the same job at less cost. Ukrainian troops demonstrated this when they sought to use Switchblade and found their quadcopters more effective.