Key facts
- U.S. Marines conducted live-fire drills using FPV drones for the first time in South Korea.
- The exercises were part of the Korean Marine Exercise Program (KMEP) at the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex.
- The 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment successfully struck targets approximately 900 meters away with FPV drones.
- FPV drones can be equipped with anti-armor, anti-materiel, and anti-personnel payloads.
- The Neros Archer drone, used in the drills, has a 25 km range and a 3 kg payload capacity.
U.S. Marines have conducted live-fire drills involving first-person view (FPV) drones for the first time on the Korean Peninsula as part of the Korean Marine Exercise Program (KMEP). The exercises took place at the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex in Pocheon, approximately 30 kilometers south of the Demilitarized Zone.
The 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment executed a total of six strikes using FPV drones, successfully hitting makeshift barracks targets about 900 meters away. These drones, which proved effective in the Russia-Ukraine war, are controlled by personnel wearing goggles and operate on a hit-to-kill method, capable of mounting anti-armor, anti-materiel, and anti-personnel payloads.
Col. Peter Ankeny, deputy commander of the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea, highlighted the importance of combined readiness and the opportunity to showcase capabilities in terrain similar to potential operational areas. The Neros Archer drone, used in the drills, boasts a maximum range of 25 km, a top speed of 130 kph, and a payload capacity of up to 3 kilograms, with its anti-tank weapon reportedly capable of penetrating 100 mm of conventional tank armor.
The U.S. Marines stated that this technology extends the tactical influence of small units beyond traditional limits, allowing for precision strikes from safer positions. The U.S. Air Force's Skydio drone provided real-time aerial footage of the drills, which were conducted in coordination with the South Korean Army's 5th Corps to demonstrate the allies' combined defense posture.