US Marines are to be issued with quadcopter drones for use in combat . They are planned to be deployed at a rate of 200 per week , with each Marine infantry battalion receiving one . They will be used for reconnaissance before operations and for collecting mapping data to use in tactical decision - making exercises . The move makes the Marines the first branch of the US military to deploy drones to soldiers on the ground on a widespread basis . Previously only the Special Operations Forces had done so .
US Marines are to be issued with quadcopter drones for use in training. They are set to be deployed at a rate of 200 per week, with each 13-strong infantry squad receiving one. They will be used for reconnaissance before operations and for collecting mapping data to use in tactical decision-making exercises. The move makes the Marines the first branch of the US military to deploy drones to soldiers on the ground on a widespread basis. Previously only the Special Operations Command had done so.