▲ U.S. Marines hold up a first-person view (FPV) drone deployed for live-fire drills on the Korean Peninsula for the first time, at the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex in Pocheon, about 30 kilometers south of the inter-Korean border, on Aug. 5, 2026, in this photo provide by Kookbangilbo. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
▲ This photo, provide by Kookbangilbo, shows an explosion at a makeshift barrack following an attack by a first-person view (FPV) drone operated by the U.S. Marine Corps in the border city of Pocheon on Aug. 5, 2026. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

By Kim Hyun-soo

POCHEON, South Korea, Aug. 6 (Joint Press Corps-Yonhap) -- Shortly after the word "splash" sounded through a transceiver shared by the U.S. Marines, an explosion echoed through a firing range in a border city, indicating that a first-person view (FPV) drone successfully struck its hillside target.

This was part of a live-fire exercise conducted Wednesday by the U.S. Marines at the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex in Pocheon, about 30 kilometers south of the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas, as part of the Korean Marine Exercise Program (KMEP).

In a rare public event disclosed to the media Wednesday, the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment executed a total of six strikes using FPV drones, all hitting the makeshift barracks used as targets some 900 meters away.

It marked the first time that the U.S. Marines have disclosed live-fire drills using FPV drones on the Korean Peninsula.

FPV drones, which proved to be one of the most potent weapons in the Russia-Ukraine war, are controlled by personnel on the ground wearing goggles and operate in a hit-to-kill method by crashing into a target.

These drones are capable of mounting one of three types of payloads -- anti-armor, anti-materiel, and anti-personnel -- depending on the purpose of the mission.

"It's all about combined readiness," said Col. Peter Ankeny, deputy commander of the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea. "The opportunity this gives Marines to come out here to the Korean Peninsula, potentially a place that we'd be called upon, getting boots on the ground, being able to showcase this capability in terrain that we could operate in," he added.

The Neros Archer drone boasts a maximum range of 25 km, a top speed of 130 kph and a payload capacity of up to 3 kilograms. Its anti-tank weapon is reportedly capable of penetrating 100 mm of conventional tank armor.

"This technology extends the tactical influence of small units far beyond the one-to two-kilometer limits of traditional, squad-level infantry weapons, allowing Marines to conduct precision strikes from positions of relative safety," the U.S. Marines said in a press release.

The iteration was executed by the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, forward deployed to the Indo-Pacific under the Unit Deployment Program.

Throughout the drills, the U.S. Air Force's Skydio drone flew overhead and captured footage of the live-fire range in real time.

A USFK official said Wednesday's drills were conducted in coordination with the South Korean Army's 5th Corps, noting they were aimed at showcasing the powerful combined defense posture between the allies.

Pointing to the scorching heat Wednesday, Col. Ankeny noted the U.S. Marines have a strict standard operating procedure for heat mitigation, noting the weather conditions provided an opportunity for them to "deal with the unique terrain that Korea has."

KMEP is a bilateral exercise with a focus on the integration of aviation and ground assets, designed to enhance the combat readiness of the U.S and South Korean Marines, according to the U.S. Marines Corps.

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