U.S. Marine Corps buys 600+ Rogue 1 kamikaze drones

Teledyne FLIR Defense, a division of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, has received a $42.5 million contract from the U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command under Delivery Order 3 of the Organic Precision Fires-Light (OPF-L) program, the company announced this week.

According to a press release from Teledyne FLIR, the contract covers the delivery of more than 600 Rogue 1 loitering munition systems. These systems will be accompanied by ground control stations and training kits, with deliveries to Marine Corps units expected to begin this summer.

The OPF-L initiative is intended to equip Marine Corps rifle squads and platoons with a portable “organic, loitering, precision strike capability to engage the enemy beyond the line of sight,” the release said.

The Rogue 1 system, designed and manufactured by Teledyne FLIR, has been tested in exercises targeting moving and stationary armor, soft-skinned vehicles, and dismounted enemy positions. The drone supports modular, mission-specific payloads and incorporates a specialized fuzing system that allows operators to abort missions and recover the munition when targets are not engaged, enabling reusability and reducing the logistical burden on troops.

Rogue 1 is equipped with day/night long-range surveillance capabilities through integrated electro-optical sensors and the FLIR Boson 640+ thermal camera. The system also features a gimballed payload design that couples the targeting sensor and warhead for improved precision.

“The accuracy and modularity of the Rogue 1 platform will enhance Marine lethality against whatever threats they may encounter in future conflicts,” said Dr. JihFen Lei, President of Teledyne FLIR Defense. “We’re honored to support the OPF-L program and will continue to work with the Marine Corps to quickly field technology innovations they need to win on the battlefield.”

George Bobb, President and Chief Executive Officer of Teledyne Technologies, added: “While Teledyne provides a broad range of unmanned air, ground, and subsea systems, this award represents our first production rate contract in the loitering munition market, following the initial test and evaluation contract in 2024.”

The company emphasized that the OPF-L program is aimed at providing tactical-level precision strike capabilities directly to small units on the battlefield, allowing for rapid engagement of enemy positions without the need for external fire support.

Teledyne FLIR noted that this is the first full-rate production order for Rogue 1 following its initial testing phase and that the system is tailored for the evolving operational needs of Marine expeditionary forces.