Enabling the USMC Approach to Distributed Operations: The Unique Role of Marine Airpower
The Marines along with the joint force are focused on force distribution both to enhance survival but to be present where force can have a meaningful impact either from a crisis management or warfighting perspective.
Marine Corps air plays a crucial backbone role in enabling ways in which the Marines can uniquely deliver a distributed maritime effect. Marine Air is focused on being operate with the Ground Combat element from the land, from the sea, or to play an air to air role with their Navy and Air Force brethren or coalition partners.
Many years ago I wrote about what called the Three Dimensional Warrior emphasizing how Marine Corps air enables the Marines to insert force with the aid of their unique combination of fifth generation air capability, the Osprey, their unique lift capability – CH-53 E and now K along with the KC-130J which also tanks the fleet – and their upgraded attack helicopters.
As the Marines work new ways to distribute their force to create the distributed effects which the joint and coalition force needs, new payloads, new enabling approaches and technologies, and new capabilities, notably in terms of autonomous systems will enable the Marines to enable this backbone force to empower a more effective distributed force.
To discuss this further and with more operational detail, I continued my earlier discussion with LtGen (Retired) Robling concerning the way ahead for the USMC. At the outset Robling highlighted the operational focus:
This is how he described the operational approach and its tactical and strategic context:
“In the context of potential conflict with China in the South China Sea, “distributed maritime effects” is just one piece of a joint warfare strategy where forces are dispersed across a wide area to enhance survivability, complicate enemy targeting, and maintain operational effectiveness. This approach contrasts with traditional methods that concentrate forces, making them more vulnerable to detection and attack.
“The South China Sea is a region of strategic importance, with overlapping territorial claims from China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. China’s activities, such as the construction of artificial islands equipped with military installations—a development referred to as the “Great Wall of Sand”—have heightened tensions and raised concerns among neighboring nations and global powers.
“In response to China’s expansive claims and militarization efforts, nations like the United States have conducted Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPs) to assert international rights to navigate these contested waters. These operations often involve deploying naval vessels and aircraft to challenge China’s assertions and demonstrate commitment to maintaining open sea lanes.
“Implementing distributed maritime operations in this context involves deploying smaller, agile naval (Combat) units across the vast expanse of the South China Sea. This dispersion makes it more challenging for adversaries to target and engage forces effectively. Such a strategy enhances the resilience of naval (and joint and coalition) operations, allowing for sustained presence and the ability to respond swiftly to emerging threats or provocations.
“This approach also aligns with countering China’s “grey-zone” tactics, which include AMONG other Forces the use of maritime militias—civilian vessels employed to assert territorial claims without direct military engagement. By dispersing forces, nations can better monitor and respond to these unconventional tactics, ensuring that no single area becomes a focal point for potential escalation.”
To enable such an operational approach, the Marines are leveraging what they have – it is good always to remember that one has 80% now of the force structure which one will have a decade out – and adding new payloads, enablers, and looking to add new platforms during the transition process underway.
But frankly what seems to be lost in discussing the way ahead is the unique quality of Marine Corps Air and its ability to enable force disaggregation, dispersion and distribution and to logistical support such a force. In fact, one could argue that for the joint force in general terms sustainability is the most ignored capability for the force, and one which needs to get more sustained budgetary and strategic consideration.
And it is how the Marines practice and operate interactively among the air elements in support of the ground combat element either ashore or afloat that is a core element of how they can enable and sustain force disaggregation, dispersion and distribution.
In future articles, I will address the air elements and how they interactively provide the backbone for force distribution.
For now, let me turn to Robling’s discussion of how the Marines are working new tactical ways to shape their way forward in terms of force distribution.
He highlighted the following tactical and force development approaches:
- Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO): The USMC can establish small, dispersed, and rapidly maneuverable bases on key islands and littorals within the First and Second Island Chains (e.g., the Philippines, Palau, and the Ryukyus). These bases serve as forward operating locations for missile strikes, air defense, and intelligence gathering. They will be temporary and relocatable to evade enemy targeting by leveraging prepositioned stockpiles and austere logistics.
- Stand-In Forces (SIF): The USMC will deploy small, resilient units inside contested zones rather than operating from outside the WEZ. These units will focus on denying Chinese naval and air superiority by utilizing long-range anti-ship and anti-air missile systems, such as: NMESIS (Navy/Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System), High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and counter-detection tactics such as signature management, electronic deception, and rapid displacement will be critical to survivability.
- Use of Littoral and Amphibious Maneuverability :Littoral regiments, such as the Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR), can operate from dispersed and mobile locations using: Small, fast craft (e.g., Mark VI patrol boats, autonomous surface vessels); Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) and aerial reconnaissance assets. This allows the USMC to move unpredictably, reposition assets, and evade missile strikes.
- Integration with Allies and Partner Nations: USMC forces will work with Japan, the Philippines, and Australia to gain basing access and logistical support. Prepositioned stockpiles, fuel depots, and repair facilities will enable distributed forces to sustain operations within China’s WEZ. Conducting joint intelligence sharing and operational coordination will enhance situational awareness and strengthen regional deterrence.
- Networked ISR and Targeting for Kill Chains: The Marines will integrate into a Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) network, allowing: Real-time sensor fusion from drones, satellites, and naval assets. Rapid kill chain execution for targeting Chinese ships and aircraft. Small, distributed units will act as sensor nodes within a larger battle network, relaying target data to U.S. Navy, Air Force, and allied missile assets.
- Countering China’s A2/AD with Dispersed Fires: The USMC will leverage precision fires and deception tactics to challenge China’s ability to dominate contested zones: Use decoys and electronic warfare (EW) to misdirect Chinese surveillance and missile targeting; Deploy mobile HIMARS batteries to strike key naval and land-based targets; Launch loitering munitions and autonomous drones for persistent strike capability.
Each of these approaches rely upon Marine Corps air to enable their success and effectiveness. But it is Marine Corps air in transformation in association with the payload revolution and the ability to work with the broad paths opening up with regard to the development and integration of autonomous systems into the manned platforms.
My next article will turn to the issues raised in the last paragraph.
The Next Steps in Working Distributed Aviation Operations: 2nd MAW Works the Challenge