United States Marines assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) are undergoing intensive training with U.S.-made first-person view (FPV) drones modeled on combat-proven Ukrainian tactics, the Marine Corps confirmed this week.
by Dylan Malyasov for Defence Blog
The training, led by personnel from the 2nd Marine DivisMoreion and the Marine Corps Attack Drone Team, is taking place at Camp Santiago, Puerto Rico, a forward-deployed site located near Venezuela. The exercise focuses on operational certification of attack drone crews using the Archer FPV drone, manufactured by California-based defense firm Neros Technologies.
According to the Marine Corps, the activity supports the broader U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) mission, along with Department of War–directed operations and executive-level priorities aimed at countering transnational crime.
“U.S. military forces are deployed to the Caribbean in support of the U.S. Southern Command mission, Department of War-directed operations, and the president’s priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland,” the service said in a release.
The Archer, featured in the training, is a compact, battlefield-proven FPV platform capable of carrying a 4.5 lb (2 kg) payload over distances exceeding 20 kilometers. As noted by Neros, the drone is designed to operate as a strike and reconnaissance asset when integrated with existing platforms, such as the Reliant multi-mission drone base.
Archer is a battlefield-proven FPV platform that can carry a 4.5lb (2kg) payload over 20km. When mounted to Reliant’s hardpoints, it expands its mission set with organic FPV strike and reconnaissance capabilities.
Founded in 2023 and headquartered in California, Neros Technologies specializes in the design and production of FPV drones and integrated control systems for U.S. and allied militaries. The company is currently one of the leading suppliers under the Army’s “Production of Battle-Adapted Systems” (PBAS) initiative, focused on building cost-effective, expendable FPV drones for tactical operations. Neros also provides systems to the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence.
Reconnaissance and target acquisition were also conducted using the Skydio X2D small unmanned aircraft system, a U.S.-made quadrotor platform optimized for tactical ISR missions. The X2D provides real-time situational awareness and visual confirmation of targets, enhancing the accuracy and responsiveness of FPV strike operations.
The U.S. Marine Corps’ current training reflects a broader strategic adaptation across NATO forces, influenced heavily by lessons learned from Ukrainian drone warfare, particularly in the realm of low-cost, operator-driven unmanned systems used to disrupt armored and infantry formations at close range.
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