The U.S. Marine Corps has unveiled its first NDAA-compliant, 3D-printed first-person-view drone, designed for rapid assembly, operational flexibility, and secure field deployment.
The drone, called HANX, was developed with key contributions from Sgt. Henry David Volpe of the 2nd Marine Logistics Group, who applied his passion for engineering and robotics to the effort. According to service officials, HANX is the first Marine Corps unmanned aircraft system built from 3D-printed components to meet National Defense Authorization Act requirements.
Volpe’s assignment to the II Marine Expeditionary Force Innovation Campus at Camp Lejeune provided the environment needed to turn the concept into a field-ready system.
HANX—named after Volpe’s nickname “Hank”—has been approved by U.S. Naval Air Systems Command and features a simple, low-cost design that allows Marines to assemble the drone using 3D-printing technology. Unlike previous 3D-printed Marine drones, HANX meets current NDAA security standards by avoiding unapproved foreign components.
The FPV drone can be adapted for multiple mission sets, including reconnaissance, logistics support, and explosive roles. Development required more than 1,000 hours of work and extensive coordination to secure approvals. The Marine Innovation Campus has since established plans for internal production, operator training, and a supporting curriculum.
