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Marines Experiment With Countering Drone Swarms From UH-1Y Venom
Marines with HMLA-269 tested counter drone swarm operations from a UH-1Y Venom during ONR's Technology Operational Experimentation Event 26.1 at Cherry Point.
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Christopher James operates a first-person view drone aboard a UH-1Y Venom (Photo by Lance Cpl. Donovan Pimentel)
During a recent training exercise, Ukrainian Drones Wiped Out a U.S. Armored Brigade in War Exercise. This was done by using a combination of high volume drone attacks and the experience of combat-tested drone operators.
The lessons learned highlights a glaring vulnerability in some aspects of the Pentagon's capabilities. However, the Navy-Marine Corps team is actively working through new, and innovative, ways to combat similar threats in the future.
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On August 10th, 2026, the Technology Operational Experimentation Event 26.1 (TOEE 26.1), run by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), saw drone operators and support staff with Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion, Company B, Marine Corps Information Command, operate a first-person view drone aboard a UH-1Y Venom near Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina.
The stated purpose of the exercise was to identify technology requirements and solutions to improve counter unmanned systems swarm capabilities. This type of evolution has happened several times in the last few months where Marines have flown drones from H-1 helicopters controlling Neros Archer drones at Twentynine Palms in May, and scouting a target vessel from a Venom at Camp Pendleton in June. Notably, the August 10th Cherry Point instance was the first tied to counter-swarm.
This event ran parallel to the Marine Corps holding its first Attack Drone Competition on August 10th through the 14th, 2026, at Quantico, where teams were tested on strike planning, target engagement, and survival against the same drone threats they are being trained to employ.
A previously posted, and now-closed, call sought technologies at readiness levels five through seven, to be tested by Marine and Navy personnel. This also asked for survivable drone swarms to act as a red cell stressing those technologies. The drones used in TOEE 26.1 could have been either.
Disclosure: Pop Smoke Media is owned by Aspetto, Inc., a defense contractor referenced in this story's industry. Please see Editorial Disclosure — Pop Smoke Media & Aspetto, Inc.
