Gantioqui, Philippines. (May 8, 2025): As we witness the devastating use of unmanned aerial vehicles by Ukraine against the Russians, it is only natural to ask, “What are WE doing about drones.” In this photo by Sergeant Mitchell Johnson, Marines with 3d Littoral Anti-Air Battalion, 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division, prepare a Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) for training.

MADIS is a mobile, maneuverable, short-range air defense platform developed to protect against aerial threats like drones but also fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and even cruise missiles. The MADIS system is mounted on two Joint Light Tactical Vehicles and consists of two variants, Mk1 and Mk2, that work in tandem.

The Mk1 vehicle’s job is to destroy incoming aerial threats using its Stinger missiles and a 30mm cannon. The Mk1 also has an electronic warfare system that can disrupt enemy communications and video signals that control the drones. 

The Mk2 vehicle, on the other hand, is equipped with radar and serves as the command-and-control element for counter drone missions. This radar allows for early detection, identification, and tracking of incoming aerial threats. Working together, the MK2 provides the MK1 with the critical information needed to engage threats effectively. 

The MADIS system has been tested extensively in live-fire exercises that have demonstrated its ability to detect and destroy incoming enemy aircraft. The Marines plan to equip its forward deployed units with MADIS to counter the growing threat presented by the proliferation of drone aircraft.