ELKTON, Md. – Dec. 18, 2025 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) completed a successful static fire test of a prototype Mk 72 solid rocket motor (SRM) at its advanced propulsion production facility in Elkton, Maryland. This achievement highlights the company’s commitment to deliver proven solid rocket motors at scale today, investment in capacity to meet Department of War needs and innovate for tomorrow. 

The Northrop Grumman Mk 72 focuses on meeting current performance requirements while improving manufacturability, lead time and cost efficiency. The company is pioneering processes and techniques to design and deliver new and second source rocket motors faster than ever, by leveraging low risk solutions and innovative qualification and production methodologies. 

Northrop Grumman’s Mk 72 solid rocket motor solution: 

• Proved the alignment of our digital twin and performance modeling technologies to real, measured motor performance through captured data in this U.S. Navy-funded static test. 

• Addressed manufacturability, producibility, and supply chain resiliency challenges being experienced by other SRM suppliers through tailored trade studies. 

• Established multiple sources for critical components, achieving supply chain resilience to ensure deliveries even as demand increases. 

Expert: 

Gordon LoPresti, senior director of propulsion systems and controls at Northrop Grumman: “The successful Mk 72 static fire test is a testament to the proven solid rocket motor technologies Northrop Grumman has delivered for over seven decades. We rapidly developed this innovative Mk 72 solution that is tailorable to the U.S. Navy’s needs, is low-risk and can be produced at scale.” 

Details: 

As a leading provider in the propulsion industry, Northrop Grumman has already made substantial investments and continues to invest in state-of-the-art facilities, increased capacity, and advanced technologies to deliver effective weapons systems and solid rocket motors at an affordable scale. To meet the growing demand from customers, we are enhancing our capabilities for producing missile components, including solid rocket motors. With a legacy of over seventy years and the successful delivery of more than 1.3 million solid rocket motors, Northrop Grumman has become a trusted supplier of various sizes of solid rocket motors and advanced propulsion solutions that are crucial for deterring threats, delivering payloads, and supporting exploration in space. 

Over the last seven years, Northrop Grumman has invested more than $1 billion in advanced manufacturing facilities across the U.S. to increase solid rocket motor and missile-component production. That includes tripling capacity for tactical SRMs at the company’s West Virginia production facility and, over the next five years, doubling production capacity at its large solid rocket motor facilities in Utah. 

Our advanced and digital manufacturing capabilities, especially those at our advanced propulsion facility, position us as a generator for highly-skilled technical talent, contributing significantly to Maryland-Delaware-Pennsylvania region. We remain dedicated to being an employer of choice that invests in local communities, driving economic growth and partnerships with local colleges. 

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — U.S. Coast Guard Barque Eagle (WIX 327) announced its 2026 schedule of port calls Friday.  

The selected port calls include the five Sail250 ports of New Orleans, Norfolk, Baltimore, New York City, and Boston. Sail250, a global gathering of tall ships and military ships to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. It will offer crews, cadets and visitors from all over the world an unforgettable experience and a world-class maritime celebration.  

“It is an immense honor for the Coast Guard Barque Eagle and crew to participate in the Sail250 festivities and celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation,” said Capt. Kristopher Ensley, commanding officer of Eagle. “This voyage not only serves as a vital training experience for the next generation of Coast Guard officers but also allows us to share America’s proud maritime heritage with the public. We are thrilled to visit these historic ports and sail alongside magnificent vessels from around the world.”  

The summer schedule includes the following dates and locations:  

May 8 – 11: TBD  

May 23 – 25: Pensacola, Florida  

May 28 – June 1: New Orleans, Louisiana  

June 11 – 14: Charleston, South Carolina  

June 19 – 22: Norfolk, Virginia  

June 25 – 28: Baltimore, Maryland  

July 4 – 8: New York, City, New York  

July 11 – 14: Boston, Massachusetts  

July 24 – 27: Portland, Maine  

July 31 – August 3: Newport, Rhode Island  

August 7 – 10: Greenport, New York  

August 14: New London, Connecticut  

For the first time since 1976, Eagle and its sister ships, Gorch Fock (Germany), Sagres (Portugal) and Mircea (Romania), will be competing for the Five Sisters Trophy. The sail race will be between New York City and Boston starting July 9 off the coast of New York.   

Public tour schedules for the Eagle at each port will be announced closer to the event dates.  

From Commander U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs, Dec. 18, 2025 

Personnel assigned to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet (NAVCENT/C5F) successfully launched a one-way attack drone from a ship at sea for the first time, Dec. 16. 

The Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32) achieved the historic milestone in the Arabian Gulf while launching a Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS). 

“This first successful launch of LUCAS from a naval vessel marks a significant milestone in rapidly delivering affordable and effective unmanned capabilities to the warfighter,” said Vice Adm. Curt Renshaw, commander of NAVCENT/C5F. “This achievement demonstrates the power of innovation and joint collaboration in this critical region.” 

On Dec. 3, U.S. Central Command announced the deployment of the U.S. military’s first one-way-attack drone squadron to the Middle East. The LUCAS drone that took off from USS Santa Barbara’s flight deck is part of the Task Force Scorpion Strike squadron formed to equip U.S. service members with the latest cutting-edge tools.  

The LUCAS platforms operated by U.S. forces in the Middle East have an extensive range and can be launched with different mechanisms to include catapults, rocket-assisted takeoff, and mobile ground and vehicle systems. 

“This platform will undoubtedly enhance regional maritime security and deterrence,” said Renshaw. 

NAVCENT/C5F’s unmanned and autonomous operations task force, Task Force 59, executed the successful LUCAS drone launch from USS Santa Barbara. 

NAVCENT/C5F is the maritime component of U.S. Central Command, whose area of responsibility encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian Ocean. This expanse, comprised of 21 countries, includes three critical chokepoints at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal, and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait at the southern tip of Yemen. 

From Textron Systems, Dec. 17, 2025 

TSUNAMI™ Vessel Provides Capability for Scale, Maturity and Capacity 

HUNT VALLEY, Md., Dec. 17, 2025 – Textron Systems Corporation, a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, announced today that it has sold a 21-ft. TSUNAMI USV to the Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific (PAC) to support the testing of the Maritime Digital Experimentation Federation (MDEF) – an Australia, United Kingdom, and United States (AUKUS) testing initiative to distribute testing of interoperability standards with uncrewed vehicles. The order includes the state-of-the-art TSUNAMI craft and engineering and training support. 

The TSUNAMI family of autonomous maritime surface vessels are designed to meet the needs of the U.S. Navy and its allies for a readily available, versatile portfolio of multi-mission uncrewed assets to team effectively across the fleet. Utilizing Brunswick Corporation’s reliable, high-performance vessels, Textron Systems developed the TSUNAMI family of products with its trusted CUSV^® vessel-based autonomy control system. The TSUNAMI family of vessels offer several variants to meet diverse mission requirements, including size, speed and range. Our solution leverages mature commercial technologies to deliver increased capacity and immediate scale. 

“The TSUNAMI craft provide the Navy with a rapidly deployable, fully autonomous solution to support their missions,” said Senior Vice President, Air, Land and Sea Systems David Phillips. “Our expertise in designing and fielding trusted autonomous solutions results in a family of small, uncrewed surface vehicles (sUSVs) that are scalable, modular in design and globally sustainable, allowing for maximum mission flexibility in an attritable system.” 

The order follows the recent sale of a 24-ft. vessel to the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Dahlgren Division. The TSUNAMI family is a low-cost, rapidly deployable solution that pairs Textron Systems’ 40+ years of multi-domain autonomous vehicle experience with the capacity and maturity of the U.S. commercial shipbuilding industry’s manufacturing and design capabilities. 

From Navy Installations Command, Dec. 18, 2025 

Washington, D.C. (Dec. 18, 2025) – Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) is enhancing the safety, comfort, and cleanliness of barracks across the Navy Shore Enterprise with $375 million of Barracks Task Force funding. Driven by the Secretary of War (SECWAR) Barracks Task Force initiative and “Sailors First” principle, these investments will improve the well-being of Sailors living in barracks throughout the Navy’s Unaccompanied Housing (UH) program.

To swiftly improve quality of service, CNIC identified several projects focused on immediate needs, encompassing safety repairs, improved cleanliness, accelerated maintenance, and upgrades to essential building systems. These improvements will address critical living conditions for Sailors living in Navy barracks. 

“Quality of service is inseparable from readiness,” said Vice Adm. Scott Gray, commander of Navy Installations Command. “Providing safe, comfortable, and clean housing is not optional. It is a responsibility we owe to every Sailor who volunteers to serve.” 

The Navy received approximately $375 million from the One Big Beautiful Bill for Navy UH program investments. About $75 million will support 95 prioritized projects across 50 installations, tailored to the unique needs of each base and may include kitchen modernizations, HVAC system upgrades, flooring replacements, and new furniture. The remaining $300 million will be used for six sustainment, restoration, and modernization projects, which range from enhancing energy efficiency and renovating bathrooms to replacing HVAC, plumbing, and electrical distribution systems. 

“This is not a one-time fix, but a sustained commitment,” Gray said. “We are dedicated to continuous improvement and ensuring our Sailors have the quality housing they deserve throughout their careers.” 

Commander, Navy Installations Command is responsible for worldwide U.S. Navy Shore installation management, designing and developing integrated solutions for sustainment and development of Navy shore infrastructure as well as quality of life programs. CNIC oversees 10 Navy regions, 70 installations, and more than 48,684 employees who are focused on warfighting and manning, training and equipping the Shore to fight and win. Navy installations are warfighting platforms essential to every Fleet operation.  

From Naval Air Systems Command, Dec. 16, 2025 

NAS Patuxent River, Md. — The Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft program office (PMA-290) achieved an airborne connectivity landmark when the P-8A Poseidon Increment 3 Block 2 (I3B2) aircraft successfully connected to the Minotaur Family of Systems (MFoS) Labyrinth hub. This pivotal connection occurred during a combined development test / operational test event this December at Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). 

I3B2 is a significant upgrade to the P-8A airframe and avionics systems. The upgrade includes new airframe racks, radome, antennas, sensors, and wiring. The modification incorporates a new combat systems suite with improved computer processing, higher security architecture, a wide-band satellite communication system, an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) signals intelligence capability, the Minotaur mission management system, and additional communications and acoustics systems to enhance search, detection and targeting capabilities. 

The Minotaur mission management system is a government-owned, open-architecture software suite. This government-off-the-shelf product combines data from various sensors to create a coherent picture for aircrews. Minotaur offers multiple aircraft and/or assets to share networked information, enhancing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. 

Labyrinth, a Minotaur cloud-platform, adds robust scalability in handling and correlating large volumes of data while providing external stakeholders access via a secure web-based interface.  The addition of Labyrinth capability into the Minotaur Enterprise enables the auto-scaling of services to allow for all Minotaur-equipped platforms to access vital shared information. 

Further proving Labyrinth’s expansive capabilities, during a recent test flight Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Two Zero (VX-20) connected to Labyrinth for the duration of the mission and provided thousands of relevant tracks.  

P-8A Poseidon test aircraft connecting to the Labyrinth cloud environment is a critical step forward in expanding the tactical utility for both in-flight aircrew and worldwide stakeholders. This achievement revolutionizes data sharing and enhances real-time situational awareness in the maritime domain. 

“With P-8A connected to Labyrinth, our MPRA community is now able to exchange multi-domain, multi-sensor tracks between existing Minotaur-equipped platforms and the new I3B2 aircraft,” said Capt. Erik Thomas, PMA-290 program manager. “This connection allows the P-8A and the watch floor to share critical operational data, ensuring that all stakeholders are synchronized to deliver a decision-advantage.” 

In response to evolving threats around the world, P-8A modifications are made via a sequence of rapid capability insertion efforts that build upon I3B2 baseline. In addition to Labyrinth, I3B2 modified Poseidon’s add top-secret architecture, Minotaur mission management system, Enhanced Multi-static Acoustics Capability (MAC-E), ASW Signals Intelligence Systems (SIGINT), wide-band satellite communication (SATCOM), and application-based architecture. 

“This milestone was the result of a collaborative effort between PMA-290 and VX-20,” added Thomas. “Advancing the strategic goals outlined by the program office and demonstrating a commitment to rapid capability development we are directly supporting continuous development of a naval “family of systems” for maritime surveillance.” 

The MPRA community, assisted by PMA-290, continues to prove the technical viability of integrating frontline warfighting aircraft with enterprise-level cloud services, paving the way for future fleet-wide implementation and a more connected, lethal force. 

PMA-290 manages the acquisition, development, support and delivery of the U.S. Navy’s maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, in addition to executing the overarching Minotaur program of record for the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and U.S. Coast Guard, as well as other services and agencies.  

From USS Nimitz Public Affairs, Dec. 17, 2025 

The Nimitz class carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) returned to its homeport of Bremerton following nine months underway in the U.S. 3rd, 5th, and 7th Fleets, Dec. 16. 

Nimitz departed Bremerton as the flagship of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (NIMCSG), Mar. 21, 2025. The nine months underway included three months in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility and nearly four months in U.S. Central Command. While overseas, NIMCSG worked alongside allies and partners to strengthen relationships and interoperability, deter conflict, and promote regional stability.  
  
“We have traveled more than two thirds of this planet during this nine month deployment, and I cannot overstate the positive impact Nimitz Strike Group has made as part of our mission to maintain peace through strength by sustaining credible deterrence alongside our Allies and Partners,” said Rear Adm. Fred Goldhammer, commander, Carrier Strike Group 11.  “With USS Nimitz as our flagship, I am extremely proud of how our Sailors carried forth our Navy’s 250 year legacy of promoting prosperity and security, deterring aggression and protecting the American way of life.” 
  
In 5th fleet, Nimitz supported freedom of navigation in the Arabian Sea, completing four Strait of Hormuz transits. The strike group provided power projection for U.S. Central Command, setting conditions for regional stability and enabling the Iran-Israel ceasefire. Additionally, the strike group supported U.S. Africa Command operations by conducting strikes against ISIS targets in Somalia. 
  
Nimitz also conducted port visits in Bahrain. Oman, and the United Arab Emirates, marking the first visit by a U.S. aircraft carrier to both UAE and Bahrain in over five years. Nimitz and its strike group also engaged in key leader exchanges and interoperability exercises with the Bahrani, Emirati, French, Indian, Malaysian, Omani, Pakistani, Saudi Arabian and Qatari Navies. 
  
While in 7th Fleet, Nimitz supported operations to uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific, providing credible deterrence and reassuring allies and partners of enduring U.S. commitment to the region. Nimitz participated in Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 25), strengthening relations with regional partners. The ship also conducted routine port visits in Malaysia and Guam, where the crew participated in key leader engagements, community relations, sporting events and cultural exchanges. 
  
“I am deeply proud of this crew for proving, over nine months of sustained operations at sea, that they are well-trained, fit to fight and ready to win,” said Capt. Joseph Furco, commanding officer of Nimitz. “These men and women, these world-class warfighters, truly exemplified our Navy’s warrior ethos through their honor, integrity, resilience and relentless commitment to the mission and to each other.” 
  
Nimitz Sailors completed more than 8,500 sorties and 17,000 flight hours, carried out 50 replenishments-at-sea aboard the carrier and sailed over 82,000 nautical miles combined. 
  
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group consists of USS Nimitz, flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 11, embarked staff of CSG 11, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9, embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54), Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108), USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123) and USS Gridley (DDG 101). 
  
An integral part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Indo-Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary to execute the U.S. Navy’s role across the full spectrum of military operations. U.S. 3rd Fleet works together with allies and partners to advance freedom of navigation and overflight, the rule of law and other principles that underpin security for the Indo-Pacific region. 

Release from Northrop Grumman

MESA, Ariz. – Dec. 16, 2025 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has entered full-rate production to deliver Mk44 Stretch Bushmaster® Chain Guns® for the U.S. Marine Corps’ new Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACVs). The Mk44S will be integrated into the Kongsberg remote turret used on the Amphibious Combat Vehicle 30mm program (ACV-30), significantly improving firepower for the Marines. 

• The Mk44S offers enhanced range, reliability and overmatch as well as the ability to fire all NATO-standard 30x173mm cartridges, including Northrop Grumman’s suite of advanced ammunition. 

• The Mk44S includes the option to upgrade from 30mm to 40mm by simply changing the barrel and a few key parts, allowing for future flexibility.  

• Production is underway at Northrop Grumman’s Mesa, Arizona, facility. 

Experts: 

Dave Fine, vice president, armament systems, Northrop Grumman: “The Mk44 Bushmaster Chain Gun delivers unmatched firepower and reliability in even the most unforgiving conditions. By integrating this proven capability into the Amphibious Combat Vehicle program, we’re equipping Marines with the tools they need to dominate the battlefield and stay ahead of evolving threats.” 

Details on the Mk44S Bushmaster Chain Gun: 

The Mk44S is a medium-caliber weapon designed to fire 30x173mm ammunition and can be upgraded to fire 40mm rounds. It offers unmatched flexibility and reliability and is ideal for use with Northrop Grumman’s advanced programmable munitions.  

Task Force brings together leaders across government, industry, labor, and academia to advance a bold vision for US naval shipbuilding and maintenance  

Release From the Atlantic Council

WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 16, 2025 – The Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security and its Forward Defense program announced today the launch of the Revitalizing US Shipbuilding Task Force in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL).  

Galvanized by momentum in the shipbuilding sector, the Task Force will develop actionable recommendations to strengthen US shipbuilding. It will develop novel approaches to design, construction, and sustainment, while balancing those innovative steps with proven measures to address persistent gaps across the sector.   

“The United States has a highly capable Navy, but to remain competitive, it needs to modernize its shipbuilding industry,” said Christine Fox, former acting deputy secretary of defense and a co-chair of the Task Force. “It is vital that the United States regains its ability to rapidly repair and produce ships today, while simultaneously preparing to take advantage of modern technology. Only with the adoption of new technology and processes will it be able to produce new, more capable ships, rapidly and affordably.”   

The Revitalizing US Shipbuilding Task Force is co-chaired by Fox; Mark Esper, the 27th secretary of defense; and Kenneth Braithwaite, the 77th secretary of the Navy. It will explore, among other aspects, how the United States can:  

Integrate advanced manufacturing capabilities in shipbuilding and maintenance;  

Develop workforce incentives to energize the maritime industrial base; and   

Evaluate the role that ally-headquartered shipbuilding firms can play in increasing US shipbuilding capacity.  

Over the next twelve months, this high-level Task Force will convene a bipartisan group of senior leaders to generate practical steps that ensure the maritime industrial base can restore US naval primacy and ensure the nation can effectively compete with China in the Indo-Pacific through sustained maritime presence and power projection.  

The Task Force’s world-class leaders will include former government officials, private-sector executives, academics, and experts in manufacturing, acquisition, and naval operations. They will convene for the first time on Tuesday, December 16.  

Task Force Members  

• Doug Beck, former director of the Defense Innovation Unit  

• Meredith Berger, formerly performed the duties of US under secretary of the Navy; former assistant secretary of the Navy for energy, installations, and environment  

• Admiral James Foggo, US Navy (retired), former commander, United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa and Allied Joint Force Command Naples  

• Admiral Lisa Franchetti, US Navy (retired), 33rd chief of naval operations  

• Vice Admiral William Galinis, US Navy (retired), former commander, Naval Sea Systems Command  

• Nickolas Guertin, former assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development, and acquisition  

• Ellen Lord, former under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment  

• Erik Raven, former under secretary of the Navy  

• Admiral John Richardson, US Navy (retired), 31st chief of naval operations  

• Russell Rumbaugh, former assistant secretary of the Navy for financial management and comptroller  

• Christopher Watkins, chief mission engineering and integration officer, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory  

Industry Task Force Members:  

  

• George Moutafis, chief executive officer, Fincantieri Marine Group (foundational partner) 

• Rear Admiral Tom Anderson, US Navy (retired), president of US shipbuilding, Hanwha Defense USA  

• Nicholas Galanos, vice president, navy and maritime industrial base, C3 AI  

• Hank Holland, chairman and chief executive officer, Amaero 

• John Lehman, vice president of strategy, corporate development and government relations, Abyss Defense  

• Rob Lehman, co-founder and chief commercial officer, Saronic Technologies  

• Vice Admiral Thomas Moore, US Navy (retired), senior vice president, government relations, HII  

• Danny Poisson, federal aerospace and defense chief technology officer, PTC  

• Dennis Pyatt, president and chief executive officer, Element US Space & Defense  

• Robert Smith, executive vice president, marine systems, General Dynamics  

• Vince Stammetti, executive vice president and chief operating officer, BlueForge Alliance  

• Jordan Webb, president and general manager, Colonna’s Shipyard  

• Brooke Weddle, senior partner, McKinsey & Company  

• Austal USA representative  

The Task Force is directed by Stephen Rodriguez and is managed by Mark Massa, Theresa Luetkefend, and Gabrielle Ellicott.  
  

The lead authors will be Michael Presley and Steven Wills. This work will build on the success of the Atlantic Council’s previous Commission on Software Defined Warfare, Commission on Defense Innovation Adoption, and Hypersonic Capabilities Task Force, and work in collaboration with the recently launched ReForge Commission.  

More information is available on the Task Force’s website. To follow its progress and receive updates, subscribe to Forward Defense. For press inquiries, please contact: [email protected].  

  

By Adolphina Vander Velde, Program Executive Officer Land Systems

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — In September, the Marine Corps unveiled the first full-rate production version of the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS), marking a major milestone in expeditionary air defense and rapid capability delivery. Following weeks of intensive new equipment training and a live-fire exercise at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Marines are now equipped with a significantly upgraded system designed to counter the evolving threat of unmanned aerial systems and low-altitude air attacks. 
 
The MADIS relies on a complementary pair of Joint Light Tactical Vehicles that form a maneuverable Ground Based Air Defense (GBAD) weapon system. It is designed to defeat UAS and manned aircraft while on the move or at the halt, providing an organic, expeditionary, and fully integrated Short-Range Air Defense capability. This fielding represents a deliberate and accelerated approach to capability delivery—one that prioritizes readiness, responsiveness and relevance to the modern battlefield. 
 
The MADIS has undergone substantial upgrades since its prototype phase. The full-rate production variant integrates advanced sensors, improved targeting algorithms, and enhanced mobility features that allow Marines to detect, track, and neutralize aerial threats faster and more effectively than ever before. 
 
The system’s modular design allows for future upgrades, ensuring MADIS remains adaptable as the threat evolves. Its integration with expeditionary platforms means it can be deployed rapidly, providing organic air defense to maneuver units without relying on external support. 
“Having supported the GBAD community for the last 22 years, from the schoolhouse to the program office, it’s clear that MADIS brings a critical new capability to the warfighter,” said Master Sgt. Brandon Meadors. “Marines have always said, ‘Anytime, anyplace,’ and this system helps us get there. It provides a state-of-the-art, mobile defense that directly supports our forces in the field.” 
 
During their time at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Marines participated in classroom instruction and field exercises designed to familiarize themselves with the MADIS’s architecture, capabilities, and tactical employment. The NET phase emphasized hands-on learning, with Marines engaging directly with the system’s radar, electro-optical/infrared sensor, and weapon platforms. 
 
The training culminated in a full-day, live-fire event, where Marines executed simulated engagements against aerial targets. The exercise validated the system’s performance and demonstrated the readiness of its operators. 
 
“I would tell other Marines training on this system to be open and be creative,” said 1st Lt. Michael Rushane. “This is the future of the Marine Corps and the future of GBAD as a whole. The ideas you come up with for how to employ this system, whether you’re a PFC or a General, will pay dividends in the success of this system moving forward,” Rushane added. 
 
With the successful completion of the NET and live-fire validation, the Marine Corps has taken a critical step in modernizing its air defense capabilities. This training represents a deliberate and accelerated approach to capability delivery—one that prioritizes readiness, responsiveness, and relevance.