Zona Militar: "Airbus avanza en el desarrollo del nuevo drone logístico VTOL MQ-72C para equipar al Cuerpo de Marines de EE.UU." / "Airbus advances in the development of the new MQ-72C VTOL logistics drone to equip the U.S. Marine Corps"

 

"Airbus avanza en el desarrollo del nuevo drone logístico VTOL MQ-72C para equipar al Cuerpo de Marines de EE.UU."

 Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Zona Militar

15 de Noviembre, 2025

 Publichado: https://www.zona-militar.com/2025/11/15/airbus-avanza-en-el-desarrollo-del-nuevo-drone-logistico-vtol-mq-72c-para-equipar-al-cuerpo-de-marines-de-ee-uu/

La empresa de defensa Airbus está desarrollando el nuevo MQ-72C Logistics Connector para el Cuerpo de Marines de los Estados Unidos (USMC). En resumen, el Logistics Connector es un dron helicóptero: un sistema aéreo no tripulado (UAS) autónomo de despegue y aterrizaje vertical (VTOL) capaz de transportar grandes cantidades de carga; esta capacidad puede ser invaluable para fuerzas armadas que necesiten trasladar equipo a entornos disputados o a áreas donde las operaciones de abastecimiento por tierra resultan difíciles. Zona Militar habló con Carl Forsling, gerente sénior de Desarrollo Comercial de Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, sobre el futuro de este programa y por qué las fuerzas armadas latinoamericanas deberían prestarle atención.

"Airbus advances in the development of the new MQ-72C VTOL logistics drone to equip the U.S. Marine Corps"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Zona Militar

15 November, 2025

Published: https://www.zona-militar.com/en/2025/11/15/airbus-advances-in-the-development-of-the-new-mq-72c-vtol-logistics-drone-to-equip-the-u-s-marine-corps/

The defense company Airbus is developing a MQ-72C Logistics Connector for the US Marine Corps (USMC). To summarize, the Logistics Connector is a helicopter drone: an autonomous vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aerial system (UAS) capable of carrying significant quantities of cargo; this capability can be invaluable for militaries that want to transport equipment to contested environments or areas where supplying operations by land are challenging. Zona Militar spoke with Carl Forsling Senior Business Development Manager for Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, about the future of this program and why Latin American militaries should take notice.

 

 

 

CSIS: " Jungle Thunder: A Multinational Approach to Improving U.S. Capabilities in Jungle Warfare "

 

 

"Jungle Thunder: A Multinational Approach to Improving U.S. Capabilities in Jungle Warfare"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez and Andre Carvalho

Americas Program

Center for Strategic and International Studies

14 November, 2025

Published: https://www.csis.org/analysis/jungle-thunder-multinational-approach-improving-us-capabilities-jungle-warfare 

 

A sizable U.S. Navy fleet continues to sail across Caribbean waters, hunting down vessels suspected of transporting drugs. Meanwhile, U.S. Marines have been deployed to Puerto Rico, where Cold War–era military facilities have been reopened. On November 13, Secretary Pete Hegseth announced via social media Operation Southern Spear, led by Joint Task Force Southern Spear and U.S. Southern Command, which will have the goal of “[removing] narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere.” At the time of writing, the general assumption in Washington is that targeted air strikes against Venezuela will occur. More extreme analyses have discussed a U.S. military invasion of Venezuela. The latter possibility is unlikely, given that the number of troops deployed (so far) is not conducive to invading Venezuela like the U.S. operations in Afghanistan in 2001 or Iraq in 2003.

Analyses of a hypothetical U.S. military operation with boots on the ground overlook one critical issue: jungle warfare (JW). U.S. troops in Venezuela would not just fight in Caracas or Maracaibo; they would also have to engage in jungle operations. JW is a unique type of combat, something that the U.S. military has not had to engage in (apart from select operations in Africa) since the Vietnam War. Fortunately for Washington and the U.S. armed services, there are many partners and allies in South America, whose militaries are experts at this type of warfare. In this analysis, the authors propose a method to improve the U.S. military’s capabilities and training in JW: the multinational exercise Jungle Thunder.

 

Shephard: "Analysis: South American domestic drone programmes fly high"

  

"Analysis: South American domestic drone programmes fly high"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Shephard

12 November, 2025

Published: https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/analysis-south-american-domestic-drone-programmes-fly-high

 

While South American militaries will continue to import drone technology from extra-regional suppliers, the successful test of a locally manufactured kamikaze drone by the Brazilian Navy demonstrates the rising role of “made in South America” systems.

 

Armed forces across the globe are increasingly interested in uncrewed aerial systems (UASs) due to their ability to support a variety of missions: combat, reconnaissance and even disaster relief. South America is keeping up. Recent developments in the militaries and defence industries of Brazil and Colombia are examples of the current strong momentum, as many armed forces focus their efforts on locally produced drone options.

 

 

 

Zona Militar: "Exportable Energy: The next frontier for light, tactical vehicles" / "Energía exportable, la próxima frontera para los vehículos tácticos ligeros"

 

"Exportable Energy: The next frontier for light, tactical vehicles"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Zona Militar

6 November, 2025

https://www.zona-militar.com/en/2025/11/06/exportable-energy-the-next-frontier-for-light-tactical-vehicles/ 

At the recent Association of the United States Army (AUSA) defense expo in Washington, DC, several light tactical vehicles carried payloads. The key question to consider is where does the energy to power them come from? Zona Military spoke with representatives from defense companies who are deeply invested in and well-versed in this field.

 

"Energía exportable, la próxima frontera para los vehículos tácticos ligeros"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Zona Militar

7 November, 2025

https://www.zona-militar.com/2025/11/07/energia-exportable-la-proxima-frontera-para-los-vehiculos-tacticos-ligeros/

En la reciente feria de defensa de la Asociación del Ejército de los Estados Unidos (AUSA) en Washington, D.C., varios vehículos tácticos ligeros portaban cargas útiles. La pregunta clave es: ¿de dónde proviene la energía para alimentarlos? Zona Militar conversó con representantes de empresas de defensa con amplia experiencia y profundo conocimiento en este campo.