MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va.– It began with a question: how can the Department of Defense harness the rapid technological evolution of First-Person View (FPV) drones to enhance warfighter capabilities? Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory personnel had observed this rapid evolution while supporting Security Assistance Group – Ukraine throughout 2023 and 2024 on a joint Revolution in Military Affairs team. The FPV impact on the battlefield was apparent. The Warfighting Lab needed an answer to this new technology.
For the Lab’s Science & Technology Division, the answer was clear—it would take innovation, collaboration, and a relentless focus on modernization to bring the FPV and its revolutionary effect to the Marine Corps. In January 2024, MCWL stepped forward to lead the Joint First-Person View Working Group, a visionary initiative designed to revolutionize the integration of FPV drones into military operations.
From the outset, the mission of the Joint FPV Working Group was ambitious. The goal was to identify the critical capabilities needed at the tactical edge, collaborate with industry to design solutions, and ensure that these technologies met the stringent requirements of the National Defense Authorization Act. At its core, the group aimed to deliver NDAA-compliant, low-cost FPV and Group 1 Unmanned Arial Systems platforms that would provide the DoD with versatile, reliable, and cutting-edge tools to empower the warfighter.
“FPV drones, with their agility and precision, represent a transformative leap in unmanned systems” according to Colonel Nathan Marvel, Science and Technology & Rapid Capabilities Office Director, Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory/Futures Directorate. To MCWL, FPVs offer a level of operational versatility that cannot be matched by traditional systems, enabling both kinetic and non-kinetic effects in complex operational environment. This versatility complements the new Organic Precision Fires – Light (OPF-L) capability that is soon to be fielded to the operating forces. With OPF-L in progress, it was important that MCWL tackle the FPV technology to bring even more capability to Marines.
MCWL brought together a diverse coalition of stakeholders—DoD entities, industry leaders, and experts in drone technology to tackle challenges ranging from defining tactical requirements to navigating complex regulatory hurdles. The group’s efforts included partnering with industry innovators to design drones optimized for both precision strikes and support missions, conducting rigorous testing and experimentation to ensure operational effectiveness and resilience in contested environments, and advocating for the importance of Uncrewed Aerial Systems to support the warfighter.
The Blue UAS List is a list of drones that the DoD has approved for government use that helps streamline the acquisition pathway for continued modernization of the force. Created by the Defense Innovation Unit, the Blue UAS List is more than a catalog; it is a critical tool for ensuring that warfighters have access to secure, reliable, and operationally relevant unmanned systems.
In its first year the Joint FPV Working Group succeeded in adding the Neros Archer FPV drone to the Blue UAS List, marking the first time an FPV drone has achieved this status, a significant milestone not just for the Marine Corps but for the entire DoD.
The Neros Archer stands out for its affordability, being four times less than the cost of comparable platforms, its modular design ready for rapid deployment, and its versatility in delivering precision kinetic effects while supporting broader operational needs.
The addition of the Neros Archer comes at a critical time. Modern conflicts have demonstrated how rapidly evolving technologies like FPV drones can shift the balance on the battlefield. By embracing innovation and fostering collaboration, MCWL ensures that U.S. forces remain not only relevant but dominant in an ever-changing operational landscape.
As the Joint FPV Working Group continues its mission, more low-cost, NDAA-compliant FPV and Group 1 UAS platforms are expected to join the Blue UAS List in 2025. These systems will expand the range of tools available to warfighters, enhancing their ability to adapt and succeed in dynamic environments. This milestone reinforces the Marine Corps’ commitment to modernization and innovation.
With this project progressing, MCWL now assists the Marine Corps in the stand-up of a cadre of trained FPV operators as an Attack Drone Team within Weapons Training Battalion (WTBN). Two training courses have been funded with Marines from WTBN, MARSOC, and the fleet trained. Through a Memorandum of Agreement with WTBN, MCWL continues to procure advanced capability to help outfit this cadre while Combat Development Directorate manages the requirements development to expand the capability across the force.
Further, MCWL and WTBN are working approval from Naval Air Systems Command of designation as development labs. This designation will allow both entities to make authorized drones in the at-the-edge manner we observe Ukrainian forces doing at their front line. MCWL also continues the next technology advances with new starts to add greater autonomy to alleviate the pilot demands of FPV operation. This work expands upon existing wearable tactical network, common unmanned systems control, and precision fires kill chain projects.
Another related effort is the OPF-L Lane led by Tactical Training and Exercise Control Group (TTECG) at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms. Begun in fall 2024 to lean into OPF-L familiarization through Service Level Training Exercise, this lane is a means to expose operating forces to the latest technology ahead of program of record fielding. Resourced by MCWL, the lane is expected to expand in 2025-2026 to include systems from the OSD Replicator Initiative that are in development by Science & Technology Division.
Fleet units can visit the Combat Development & Integration Intelligent Robotics and Autonomous Systems sharepoint page to view instructions for Blue UAS List FPV procurement. FPV systems will become available as they are approved. Through the Joint FPV effort, Attack Drone Team, TTECG technology lane, and Replicator, Marines can expect to see a proliferation of new capabilities in the near future. MCWL remains steadfast in its dedication to equipping warfighters with the tools they need to achieve tactical superiority today and meet the challenges of tomorrow.
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