Marines using Drone Rounds in FATS/ISMT system trainers

The InVeris FATS (Firearms Training Simulator) and later ISMT (Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer) systems have been used by the military going back to the 1980s. Besides giving some (virtual) trigger time in a safe indoor environment, the latter is key for bases with extreme summer or winter climates; they allow for real-time feedback and the use of more exotic scenarios than can be staged on a flat range. Plus, they are fun. I’ve had a blast on them in the past. U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, forward deployed with 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division as part of the Unit Deployment Program, fire an M249 Squad Automatic Rifle light machine gun while conducting an Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Apr. 29, 2026. The training is a computer-based, 3D interactive simulator used to train Marines in marksmanship, tactical decision-making, and weapons handling without the use of live ammunition, while also being able to…