On July 3, 2025, Marines at Camp Lejeune’s School of Infantry – East made history by executing the first live munitions drop from a fully fielded drone, marking a major milestone in the Marine Corps’ ongoing efforts to integrate small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) into combat operations.

The live-fire training scenario was part of a simulated company-level assault that combined drone strikes with traditional weapons, including mortar fire and a Javelin missile launch.

The event not only showcased cutting-edge drone technology but also demonstrated the effectiveness of coordinated multi-domain attacks within a single operational framework.

The centerpiece of the exercise was the deployment of weaponized drones, including the SkyRaider and the Neros Archer, both used in live munition roles.

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The SkyRaider carried a new munition known as the Mjolnir—a compact, soda-can-sized device equipped with stabilizer fins, a sensor, and 500 grams of explosive material.

Upon detonation, the Mjolnir releases a lethal spray of ball bearings, which can be triggered by point detonation or mid-air burst via laser light technology.

The Mjolnir concept was first introduced during the School of Infantry Summit by Maj. Jessica Del Castillo, whose briefing piqued command interest and led to this pioneering live-fire test.

Del Castillo spearheaded the planning and safety protocols necessary to bring the system from concept to reality.

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“I did the heavy planning leading up to the Mjolnir drop: getting the interim flight clearance approved, doing that kind of work prior to the event, and then ensuring the safety structure was in place for the live drop,” said Del Castillo.

“The objective was to do small UAS live drops from a program of record system, as well as [Neros Archer] … on a Marine Corps-owned range. We wanted to do it here in our local training area for the first time with all the approvals in place, so it was legal and kind of a first use case for the program of record system.”

While the Mjolnir showed considerable promise, the initial drop revealed operational quirks.
According to Del Castillo, the device detonated prematurely while still in free fall, highlighting a limitation that will likely inform further testing and refinement.

Another highlight of the exercise was the Neros Archer, a rugged first-person-view drone small enough to fit in a backpack.

Operated by Staff Sgt. Ryan Welch, the drone was outfitted with an anti-personnel charge armed with a Kraken Electronic Safe and Arming Device, designed to project hundreds of steel ball bearings in a wide, lethal spread.

“I got visual of the target and then command-detonated roughly four to five meters away from the target. Spread that fragmentation pattern out,” Welch explained.

“If there were actually humans where that [charge] went off…devastating. Complete destruction of those personnel.”

To support the precision of these attacks, a Stalker drone loitered overhead, providing live video feeds to assist in targeting, coordination, and after-action assessment.

Piloted by Staff Sgt. Andrew Ricigliano, the Stalker completed the longest continuous flight of its kind at Camp Lejeune.

“What stood out to me in the combined arms event today was the deconfliction of traditional weapons like the 81mm mortars and Javelins with the aerial systems being used,” said Ricigliano.

“Making sure everything was deconflicted and safe, being that it’s the first time we’ve done this in the most restrictive range complex the Marine Corps has to offer.”

This multi-pronged approach—combining traditional and emerging weapons systems—was designed not only to test hardware but also to refine doctrine.

The overarching aim was to establish a scalable and replicable training model for future exercises, according to Maj. Matthew Johnson, operations officer for the Advanced Infantry Training Battalion and officer-in-charge of the exercise.

“This exercise was built to be an exercise that can be replicable. It’s one that we built to begin the process. It’s not the end, but it’s beginning the process of identifying what use of small arms, both from [program of record] systems and from Blue UAS, looks like,” Johnson said.

“We are trying to build a ‘this is how it can be done’ and start the conversation of how do we employ these systems in our fighting formations.”

With this successful test, the Marine Corps is one step closer to realizing a future battlefield where drone-based precision strikes and traditional firepower are seamlessly integrated.

While there is still work to be done, the July 3 exercise marks a significant leap toward redefining the capabilities of modern infantry.

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