U.S. Marine Corps FPV Drone Training Advances Expeditionary Unit Integration in Puerto Rico.

The U.S. Marine Corps confirmed that Marines conducted advanced Attack Drone Training: Practical Application at Camp Santiago, Puerto Rico, on November 18, 2025, focusing on first-person view attack drones. The event marks a significant step in rapidly integrating FPV strike capabilities into deployed Marine Expeditionary Units.

According to information released by the U.S. Marine Corps, Marines carried out advanced attack drone training at Camp Santiago on November 18 as part of an effort to operationalize first-person view unmanned systems across expeditionary forces. The practical application phase emphasized hands-on employment of FPV attack drones, reinforcing the Corps’ push to adapt lessons from modern conflicts into deployable, unit-level capabilities.
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U.S. Marine Corps forces employed the Neros Archer first-person view attack drone alongside the Skydio X2D small unmanned aircraft system during the attack drone training in Puerto Rico. (Picture source: US DoD)

The training event involved Marines from Battalion Landing Team 3/6, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), who were trained and formally certified by instructors from 2nd Marine Division and the Marine Corps Attack Drone Team. Conducted in a realistic expeditionary environment, the activity focused on hands-on employment, safety validation, and combat integration of FPV attack drone systems, reinforcing the Corps’ shift from experimental use to operational fielding.

During the exercise, Marines employed the Neros Archer first-person view attack drone, a commercial off-the-shelf system adapted for military strike missions. The Archer is designed for high-speed terminal attack profiles and close-range precision engagement, using immersive FPV goggles that provide the operator with real-time visual feedback during flight and impact. The system’s modular architecture allows rapid payload integration, typically carrying small explosive charges optimized for light armor, fortified positions, or dismounted threats. Its low acoustic and visual signature, combined with its expendable cost profile, makes the Neros Archer particularly suited for urban, jungle, and littoral environments such as those found in the Caribbean region.

Marines participating in the Puerto Rico training were required to perform full mission cycles, including pre-flight inspections, propeller and power system checks, target acquisition, simulated attack runs, and post-mission safety procedures. A U.S. Marine rifleman from BLT 3/6 was photographed conducting a propeller check on a Neros Archer drone, underscoring the emphasis on operator discipline and mechanical reliability as FPV systems transition into routine combat loadouts.

Alongside FPV strike drones, the training also incorporated the Skydio X2D small unmanned aircraft system, which provided reconnaissance, surveillance, and target development support. The X2D is a military-optimized quadcopter equipped with dual-sensor payloads, combining a 4K daylight camera with a radiometric thermal imager. Designed for denied environments, the X2D features advanced autonomous navigation, GPS-denied flight capability, and AI-enabled obstacle avoidance, allowing Marines to operate effectively in complex terrain with limited communications.

In the Puerto Rico scenario, the Skydio X2D was used to conduct overwatch, confirm target locations, and assess battle damage, feeding real-time intelligence to FPV attack drone operators. This combined employment reflects emerging Marine Corps doctrine, where ISR-focused sUAS platforms cue expendable attack drones, compressing the sensor-to-shooter timeline at the platoon and company level.

According to Marine officials familiar with the training evolution, the Attack Drone Training: Practical Application phase is designed to validate how FPV systems are integrated into infantry tactics rather than treated as standalone capabilities. The certification process ensures that operators, payload specialists, and supervising leaders understand command and control requirements, airspace deconfliction, and risk mitigation, particularly critical when operating explosive-laden drones in proximity to friendly forces.

The deployment context of the 22nd MEU(SOC) adds strategic weight to the training. U.S. military forces operating in the Caribbean region support U.S. Southern Command missions, Department of War-directed operations, and presidential priorities aimed at disrupting illicit drug trafficking and protecting the homeland.  FPV attack drones provide a scalable option for maritime interdiction support, expeditionary base defense, and rapid response contingencies across dispersed island terrain.

For the Marine Corps, the Puerto Rico training event represents more than a certification exercise. It serves as a proving ground for how FPV attack drones and advanced reconnaissance sUAS, such as the Skydio X2D, can be employed together by forward-deployed MEUs. Lessons learned from Camp Santiago are expected to inform the broader service-wide drone training framework, influencing tactics, safety standards, and future procurement decisions as the Corps accelerates toward achieving a large-scale unmanned strike capability.