US soldiers and Marines test C4-loaded FPV attack drones in South Korea

Published Aug 10, 08:05 PM UTC

U.S. troops from the 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. Combined Division, alongside Marines, conducted live-fire training with explosive drones at Rodriguez Live Fire Complex in South Korea. The soldiers outfitted Neros Archer Strike first-person-view (FPV) drones with C4 explosives to attack targets, marking the division's first use of live ordnance with the system. The training is part of a broader military push to place attack drones directly in the hands of smaller units, enabling platoon- and squad-level elements to strike targets up to 20 kilometers away without relying on higher-echelon assets. The drones, small enough to be carried in one hand, have already been tested in real-world combat in Ukraine. The effort is led by Talon Technologies, the innovation arm of the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, and also assesses drones for intelligence, surveillance, and cargo missions.