Marines assigned to the 4th Marine Regiment and 3rd Marine Division conducted two separate events. The 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion held the first on July 30, followed by the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment.
Both units are forward-deployed to the Pacific under the unit deployment program. The Marine Corps said the series demonstrated its ability to field emerging technologies rapidly in the Western Pacific.
Marines used Neros Archer drones to conduct anti-armor and antipersonnel explosive strikes. The system gives squads and platoons a strike option beyond the reach of traditional infantry weapons.
“Training with these FPV drone systems with deployed Marines, on a live-fire range and in a unique environment allows us to get one step further toward integrating it into real-world operations,” said Marine Corps 1st Lt. Evan Brace, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion company executive officer. “We learn what works, and most importantly, what needs to be worked on and refined, so that when the time comes to use the Neros Archer on the battlefield, we have perfected the craft.”
The Marine Corps described the Neros Archer as a cost-effective alternative to larger firing platforms. It also allows Marines to conduct precision strikes from positions of relative safety.
“Equipping our Marines with FPV attack drones give us a useful tool that provides an additional kinetic option for us to use,” Brace said. “This capability allows units down to the fireteam level to possess organic, precise fires capable of shaping their battlespace.”
The live-fire series required a dedicated safety and airspace structure on the Korean Peninsula. The 4th Marine Regiment coordinated with the 2nd Infantry Division, 8th Army and the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade.
The units worked with South Korea to establish the required regulatory framework. Marines also completed dry-fire rehearsals and procedural checks before each high-explosive training event.
“Many of the obstacles we encountered before conducting this training, since it was the first of its kind here in [South] Korea, were overcome through a mission-focused mindset and through close cooperation and coordination with our [South] Korean allies,” Brace said. The Marine Corps said the work could expand future joint and allied FPV attack-drone training.
“The Neros Archer live-fire training proves that when we hand cutting-edge attack drones to our young Marines, they rapidly adapt, turning small units into highly lethal, self-sufficient precision strike forces,” said Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Ismael Bamba, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea senior enlisted leader. “By mastering this technology, we are not just upgrading our tactics, we are building a faster, smarter and deadlier team capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with our South Korean allies, ready to dominate any modern battlefield.”
The Marine Corps said the training improved the regiment’s proficiency with drones in offensive and defensive scenarios. It also marked the first series of FPV attack-drone flights conducted by U.S. Marines in South Korea.
