Marines Used Anti-Drone Netting During Recent Logistics Exercise

Key Points:

• The U.S. Marine Corps appears to be using anti-drone mesh netting during a recent logistics exercise in South Korea, a defensive measure previously highlighted by TWZ and used by forces in Ukraine, the Netherlands, and Israel to counter small attack drones.
• The netting aims to disable drones by entanglement or keep them at a safe distance before detonation, though its effectiveness against highly maneuverable first-person view (FPV) drones remains uncertain due to its limited coverage.
• The exercise, Combined Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore 26 (CJLOTS 26), involved U.S. and South Korean forces practicing cargo offloading without port infrastructure, with training designed to enhance protection against drone threats amid evolving battlefield conditions.
• The Pentagon’s Joint Interagency Task Force 401 has recommended physical barriers like netting as part of a layered defense against drones, reflecting growing U.S. military acknowledgment of the drone threat and a shift toward integrating passive countermeasures.
• While netting use is increasing globally, including in Israel, Taiwan, and Europe, widespread adoption by the U.S. military remains limited, though interest persists following recent drone incursions and ongoing concerns about drone attacks in potential conflicts with China or North Korea.