US Marine Corps Integrates Undersea Warfare into Core Multidomain Operations From Advanced Bases.

According to information published by the U.S. Marine Corps on July 10, 2025, the integration of Marine Corps units into undersea warfare operations is progressing as part of the Atlantic Alliance 2025 (AA25) exercise, the main naval integration event conducted by the U.S. Navy on the East Coast. Led by the Theater Undersea Warfare Commander (TUSWC), under the authority of Commander Submarine Group TWO (COMSUBGRU2), this initiative aims to formalize the Marine Corps' role in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and align it with the fleet’s operational doctrines. Building on experimentation from Fleet Battle Problem 2024, participants in AA25 are committed to refining tactics, improving procedures, and integrating Marine Corps capabilities into ASW requirements within contested environments.
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The Atlantic Alliance 2025 exercise, running from June 28 to July 11, covers a broad operational theater from the coast of North Carolina to Maine, combining land and maritime maneuvers (Picture source: US DoD)

Captain Bill Howey, director of maritime operations at COMSUBGRU2, stated that the Marine Corps’ capacity to contribute to ASW is no longer in question; the current focus is on optimizing this contribution within naval operations. Tactically, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron VMM-162 is deploying its MV-22B Osprey aircraft to deliver A-size sonobuoys, enhancing undersea surveillance capabilities and increasing the effectiveness of U.S. ASW forces in the Atlantic. The Osprey’s tiltrotor design offers advantages for distributed aviation operations and expeditionary advanced base operations (EABO), due to its speed, range, and payload capacity comparable to the P-8A Poseidon, while maintaining extended on-station presence for critical missions.

Major Sean T. Penczak, executive officer of VMM-162, noted the operational relevance of the Osprey in addressing evolving undersea threats. In parallel, the Marine Corps is developing competencies in expeditionary command and control, distributed sensing networks, and advanced sensor deployment. These efforts aim to strengthen the resilience and reach of the TUSWC architecture, which is traditionally composed of destroyers, fast-attack submarines, maritime patrol aircraft such as the P-8A Poseidon, MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, and allied contributions.

Colonel James C. Derrick, commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 26, pointed out that the integration of Marines into ASW missions, previously unprecedented, is now firmly established within naval operations. The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is also contributing to AA25 by providing automated sonar processing technologies and sensor command and control tools, enabling Marine systems to participate in real-time undersea warfare and extending the reach of the EABO concept below the surface.

The Atlantic Alliance 2025 exercise, running from June 28 to July 11, covers a broad operational theater from the coast of North Carolina to Maine, combining land and maritime maneuvers. It aims to enhance interoperability between the Navy, the Marine Corps, and allied forces, while improving readiness for amphibious operations, EABO, and littoral engagements in contested environments. Captain Howey concluded by stating that the division between surface and undersea naval operations is now obsolete, as the U.S. Navy adopts a comprehensive approach to address maritime security challenges.

AA25 represents a major strategic evolution for the U.S. Navy by fully integrating the Marine Corps into undersea warfare. Using the MV-22B Osprey, the strengthening of sensor networks, and the advancement of real-time command and control technologies, the Navy-Marine Corps team is establishing a cohesive response to emerging threats in the undersea domain.