POCHEON, Gyeonggi Province — A voice over the radio quietly called out, “Splash.” About three seconds later, an explosion echoed across Rodriguez Live-Fire Complex as a first-person view (FPV) attack drone slammed into a target about 2.5 kilometers from the observation post. The U.S. Marine Corps on Wednesday publicly conducted its first live-fire exercise with FPV attack drones on the Korean Peninsula, using the Neros Archer as part of the Korea Marine Exchange program (KMEP). Marines from the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment launched six quadcopter-style drones, all six of which struck targets about 900 meters away. Operated in hit-to-kill mode, the drones were guided through onboard cameras until impact, allowing operators and reporters at the observation post to watch the flight in real time from the drone’s perspective before the video feed abruptly cut out at impact. Roughly the size of a backpack, the Neros Archer has a maximum range of 25 kilometers, a top speed of about 130 kilometers per hour and can carry payloads weighing up to three kilograms. Depending on the missi