US Marines unveil new role for infantry in age of drones; how Indian Army is transforming
The US Marine Corps has unveiled its 'Ground Combat Element 2040' roadmap, which focuses on integrating drones, AI, and electronic warfare into small infantry units. This modernization strategy is heavily influenced by lessons learned from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Why it matters
It signals a fundamental shift in global military doctrine toward decentralized, tech-heavy warfare that relies on autonomous systems.
The US Marine Corps is planning to redesign its infantry force for future wars dominated by drones, with a new roadmap calling for greater use of unmanned systems, counter-drone weapons, electronic warfare and precision fires at the small-unit level.The plan, called Ground Combat Element 2040, aims to make Marine ground units more capable of fighting on a battlefield saturated with enemy drones, sensors and surveillance systems.According to The War Zone (TWZ), the Marine Corps plans to push these capabilities down to the rifle-squad level. The approach would give small units their own counter-drone systems, drones and longer-range precision-strike capabilities, reducing their dependence on larger formations for some battlefield tasks.The Marine Corps' modernisation plan will be implemented in three overlapping phases.
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