Use of shotguns against UAVs
The use of shotguns against small low flying UAVs became prevalent with the large scale use of commercial fpv drones in the Russo-Ukrainian war. Used models are the Vepr-12 and Remington Model 870 type shotguns.[1][2]
Shotguns provide more effective against drones than regular rifles because of their spreading pattern of multiple projectiles[3] Damaging one of the propellers on a small quadcopter unbalances it, which is sufficient to make it incapable of flying.[3]
Adaptions
[edit]Ukraine
[edit]Ukraine acquired 4000 Turkish Hatsan Escort BTS-12 semi-automatic Bullpup shotguns.[1]
Belgium
[edit]The Kleine Brogel Air Base has adapted the Benelli M4 Super 90 to counter unauthorized unmanned aerial vehicles.[2]
Products
[edit]Benelli M4 A.I. Drone Guardian
[edit]Benelli Armi released the M4 A.I. Drone Guardian, citing use against small quadcopter fpv drones. It is available in 18,5 and 26 inch barrel length.[4][5]
Ingra Rosyanka
[edit]Rosyanka is an adapter for the GP-25 underbarrel grenade launcher, that's meant to fight small drones. Like the GP-25 it works as a single shot launcher, but with 12-gauge ammunition instead.[6]
Skynet shotgun shell
[edit]Skynet shotgun shells are 12-gauge shells that contain a net, they can be launched from a regular 12ga shotgun.[7][8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Hambling, David. "Shotguns Are Russia's Last Line Of Defense Against Drones". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
- ^ a b "Belgian Air Force adopts Italian Benelli M4 shotgun as counter-UAS solution". web.archive.org. 2024-05-17. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
- ^ a b "Shotguns as a Drone Countermeasure? - YouTube". web.archive.org. 2024-06-30. Retrieved 2024-06-30.
- ^ "M4 A.I. Drone Guardian 18,5" | Benelli Defense". web.archive.org. 2024-12-13. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
- ^ "M4 A.I. Drone Guardian 26" | Benelli Defense". web.archive.org. 2024-11-07. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
- ^ "Russian Anti-Drone GP25 Adaptor – The Armourers Bench". web.archive.org. 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
- ^ "12 Gauge: SKYNET™ Mi-5". web.archive.org. 2022-11-27. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ "Watch a Test of Anti-Drone Weapons, From Shotguns to Superdrones". Wired.