Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation has released its 2025 Marine Corps Aviation Plan, setting a course to meet near-term operational demands while overhauling Marine aviation for future conflicts. The document lays out priorities that include technology adoption, expeditionary mobility, sustainment reforms, and tighter integration across the active and reserve force to support the Marine Air-Ground Task Force from day-to-day competition through high-end conflict.
At the center of the plan is Project Eagle, a modernization push built around Distributed Aviation Operations and Decision-Centric Aviation Operations—concepts designed to keep aircraft and command-and-control networks effective and survivable in contested theaters. The effort leans on AI-enabled decision tools, autonomous and unmanned platforms, advanced digital command-and-control, and manned-unmanned teaming to speed actions and complicate adversary targeting.
“We are committed to shaping a future aviation force that is ready, resilient, and capable of rapidly responding to emerging threats, wherever they may arise,” said Col. Derek Brannon, Branch Head for the Cunningham Group, Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation. “Project Eagle builds on the progress we’ve made, and it prepares us to embrace technological innovation while ensuring we can deliver combat power across all domains.”
Readiness remains the baseline, with the plan emphasizing the ability to surge on short notice. Expeditionary mobility is another pillar: the service highlights continued modernization of the MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor, the CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter, and the KC-130J Hercules to support agile operations from austere or distributed locations at sea and ashore.
The Marine Corps also outlines a broad refresh of aviation sustainment. That includes establishing Maintenance Operations Centers, reforming supply chains, and expanding aviation logistics packages to keep forces supplied and flying under contested conditions—work that underpins distributed operations and supports the broader Marine Air-Ground Task Force.
On the command-and-control side, the plan advances Marine Air Command and Control System modernization. Upgrades center on systems such as the TPS-80 radar and Ground-Based Air Defense capabilities, along with regional air defense concepts intended to support Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations and enable digital interoperability with joint and coalition partners.
Total force integration rounds out the priorities, with a focus on closer alignment between the active component and the reserve 4th Marine Aircraft Wing to increase flexibility, strengthen sustainment, and improve warfighting readiness across the enterprise.
“Through continued modernization and an unwavering commitment to current readiness, Marine Aviation is prepared to support the MAGTF through competition to conflict,” said Lt. Gen. Bradford Gering, Deputy Commandant for Aviation. “The 2025 Aviation Plan demonstrates our resolute dedication to maintaining operational superiority and ensuring we are always ready to project force, wherever and whenever needed.”
The plan’s themes align with the Corps’ broader shift toward dispersed, networked operations envisioned under concepts such as Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations, reflecting an emphasis on operating inside enemy weapons engagement zones with resilient logistics and resilient command-and-control. It also comes as the service continues to field the CH-53K, upgrade the Osprey and KC-130J fleets, and expand the use of autonomous and unmanned systems across the aviation enterprise.
More information, including the full 2025 Marine Corps Aviation Plan, is available at https://www.aviation.marines.mil/.
