In mid-July 2025, the Navy and Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems program, known as PMA-263, conducted a pivotal two-week PMA-263 LRT Demonstration at the University of Maryland (UMD) UAS Test Site in Chaptico, Maryland.
Nearly 20 miles from Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) at Patuxent River, the event brought together five commercial vendors to showcase their Long Range Tactical (LRT) unmanned systems, informing the Marine Corps’ Family of Small UAS (FoSUAS) requirements. The demonstration evaluated advanced drones for their suitability in military operations, a significant step for Southern Maryland’s defense innovation hub.
The PMA-263 LRT Demonstration featured five fixed-wing, vertical take-off and landing Group 2 unmanned systems: AeroVironment P550, Kraus-Hamdani K1000 ULE Block II, Aurora Skiron X, Edge Autonomy Stalker LRT, and Vector Longbow. Each system underwent rigorous testing against a standard test card, assessing ease of operation, audibility, range, and endurance while carrying a seven-pound payload. The UMD UAS Test Site, led by program director Jim Alexander, provided impartial expertise. “This is a great relationship for the University of Maryland and PMA-263,” Alexander said, noting his team’s nine-year collaboration with the program. “We get to learn new systems, and the Navy collects a lot of data in a short amount of time.”
Southern Maryland’s Patuxent River, a cornerstone of naval aviation testing, benefits from its proximity to Chaptico’s controlled testing environment. The PMA-263 LRT Demonstration allowed the Marine Corps’ Small UAS Capabilities team and the Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations to observe flight demonstrations and engage directly with vendors. “Flight demonstration events like this are a critical market research function for the PMA and help us validate performance data reported by vendors,” said Olivia Douglass, PMA-263 FoSUAS Integrated Product Team lead. “We want to see industry taking an interest in recognizing end user requirements and using that as a driving factor in improving their systems.”
The PMA-263 LRT Demonstration collected performance data to guide future engineering assessments and potential operational testing. The results will shape the Marine Corps’ FoSUAS program, determining which platforms meet LRT requirements for inclusion in the program of record. This process ensures that Marines receive reliable, high-performing drones tailored to their operational needs, enhancing mission capabilities in diverse environments.
For Southern Maryland, the PMA-263 LRT Demonstration underscores the region’s role in advancing military technology. St. Mary’s County, home to NAVAIR, supports thousands of jobs tied to defense innovation, with events like this fostering collaboration between industry, academia, and the military. The UMD UAS Test Site’s expertise, bolstered by experienced drone pilots like Alexander, strengthens this ecosystem. As the Marine Corps evaluates the data, the PMA-263 LRT Demonstration highlights Chaptico’s growing significance as a testing ground for next-generation unmanned systems, cementing Southern Maryland’s place in naval aviation’s future.
