"A swift, black object made a sharp turn in the skies above Camp Pendleton on Friday, then dove into a target on a barren hill, sparking a reddish-orange explosion that echoed for miles. It was a sign that the Marine Corps is adding a lethal weapon to its repertoire an adaptation drawn in part from watching Ukraine effectively using tiny kamikaze-style drones to fight Russia."
"The base's 1st Marine Division is learning to use Neros Archer drones that are smaller than a breadbox and weigh only 2 pounds. The drones can easily carry about 3 pounds of ordnance, notably C4 explosives, at speeds upward of 100 mph. The drones' operating system is similar to that of many commercial video games, which is a plus. Most of the Marines who'll be using these aircraft are young and they grew up playing such video games."
Marines at Camp Pendleton are integrating small, disposable Neros Archer drones into ground combat operations to deliver explosive ordnance. The drones weigh about 2 pounds, fit smaller than a breadbox, carry roughly 3 pounds of explosives such as C4, and can exceed 100 mph. Operators use specialized goggles for live video feeds, supported by a navigator and an antenna mast operator, enabling precise remote maneuvering. The drones can impact targets directly or be commanded to detonate at set distances, such as 13 feet or 6.5 feet from a target. The program aims to field about 10,000 of the small drones this year, influenced by Ukrainian combat use.
Read at www.sandiegouniontribune.com
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