[Ministry of National Defense Joint Press Corps · E-Daily Reporter kim kwanyong ] On the afternoon of the 5th, at the Rodriguez Firing Range in Yeongpyeong-ri, Yeongjung-myeon, Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province. At the observation post, which offered not a single patch of shade, U.S. Marine Corps personnel were busy assembling and conducting final checks on FPV (First Person View) attack drones—quadcopter-type devices about the size of a small backpack.

Across the vast firing range stretching out below the railing, a target area was visible on the mountainside. The distance between the observation post and the target was approximately 2.5 km. At 4:33 p.m., a black drone soared into the air with a sharp whirring of its propellers from the fingertips of a U.S. Marine holding the remote control.

The drone raced toward a barracks-shaped target about 900 meters away at a speed nearing 130 km/h. The target on the screen grew larger in an instant, then the video went black, and a brief “Splash” was heard over the radio. Moments later, a red flash was followed by a dull explosion about three seconds later, shaking the firing range.

This marks the first time the U.S. Marine Corps has opened a live-fire training exercise involving FPV attack drones on the Korean Peninsula to the media.

The training was conducted by the 7th Regiment of the U.S. Marine Corps’ 3rd Division, which was visiting South Korea as part of the Korea-U.S. Marine Corps Exchange Program (KMEP). Although the training itself was conducted solely by the U.S. Marine Corps, it was intended to assess the operational capabilities of U.S. Marines deployed to the Korean Peninsula in the event of a crisis, as well as the readiness of the ROK-U.S. combined forces. It is also unusual for the U.S. side to open KMEP training to the media.

The drone deployed that day was the “Neros Archer,” developed by the U.S. drone company Neros. It is an FPV suicide drone currently operated by the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, utilizing a “Hit-to-Kill” method that destroys targets by colliding directly with them.

The drones were equipped with cameras that transmitted real-time video, allowing pilots to precisely guide them while watching the target until the very end via their terminals. Reporters also watched in real time on monitors as the drones charged toward their targets from the drone’s perspective.

A total of 11 drones were deployed during this exercise, and in the live-fire demonstration open to the press, all six rounds hit their targets.

The Nero Archer has a maximum range of 25 km, a top speed of 130 km/h, and can carry a payload of up to 3 kg. Depending on the mission, operators can select anti-tank, anti-materiel, or anti-personnel warheads; according to U.S. officials, the anti-tank warhead can penetrate approximately 100 mm of rolled homogeneous armor (RHA).

In particular, it is drawing attention as a weapon that compensates for the limitations of existing infantry firepower. While the effective range of the 60-mm and 81-mm mortars operated by the South Korean Army and the U.S. Marine Corps is typically 3–5 km, the FPV drone can simultaneously conduct reconnaissance and deliver precision strikes on targets more than 20 km away. It is regarded as a new key weapon in modern warfare, as it provides long-range precision strike capabilities at a low cost.

Colonel Peter Ankney, Deputy Commander of the U.S. Marine Corps in Korea, stated, “The core of this exercise is combined readiness,” adding, “It is a very important opportunity for the U.S. Marine Corps to operate new capabilities in the terrain of the Korean Peninsula, where they might actually be deployed.”

He emphasized, “This is not simply about launching drones; it is a process of developing new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) while gaining experience in firing range operations, airspace management, regulatory procedures, and joint force coordination,” adding, “This synergy is perfected through repeated training.”

The training took place amid a heat wave warning issued for most regions across the country. Although the live-fire exercise, originally scheduled for 3:00 p.m., was delayed by about an hour and a half due to safety procedures, it was not canceled. Deputy Commander Ankney said, “We cannot control the weather on the battlefield,” adding, “It is also an important part of training to experience firsthand not only South Korea’s mountainous terrain but also the hot and humid summer conditions and the bitter cold of winter.”

He further explained, “While commanders have the authority to cancel training based on weather conditions, today was a day when all necessary approvals—including airspace clearances from various agencies and range reservations—had already been secured,” adding, “We are strictly enforcing standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent heat-related illnesses, such as providing ice water and deploying medics and safety vehicles.”

Another focus of this exercise was the “decoupling from China’s supply chain.” The Neros Archer is the first FPV attack drone to obtain the U.S. Department of Defense’s “Blue UAS” certification. It is notable for meeting the standards of the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), effectively eliminating dependence on Chinese-made core components.

Kenneth Inocencio Neros, Head of Asia-Pacific Operations, explained, “Our goal is to supply unmanned systems to the U.S. and its allies without relying on Chinese components,” adding, “We have established a non-Chinese supply chain, with core components sourced and manufactured in the U.S., motors from Taiwan, and magnets from Japan.”

He emphasized, “We have supplied approximately 6,000 units to Ukraine, and they are also in operation with U.S. Marines stationed in Japan, as well as in Australia and Singapore,” adding, “Interoperability is maximized when allies use the same system, and that is the strength of the alliance.”

With FPV drones emerging as a “game-changer” that is reshaping the battlefield following the Russia-Ukraine war, the U.S. Marine Corps’ first public demonstration of this capability on the Korean Peninsula—including live-fire exercises—is interpreted as signaling the potential for a significant expansion of the role of small attack drones in future ROK-U.S. joint operations.