What are SMARTSHOOTER fire control systems designed for?
The abstract and concrete threat posed by drones has become a global reality. Military forces as well as law enforcement agencies, including federal and state police units, are increasingly confronted with this persistent threat. According to reports from various operational deployments, German Bundeswehr camps in Afghanistan and Mali, for example, were almost daily overflown by Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS). These flights were assumed to serve reconnaissance purposes. However, it cannot be ruled out that Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) may also carry payloads capable of conducting attacks. With the increasing proliferation of sUAS, Counter-sUAS (C-sUAS) capabilities and technologies are becoming increasingly important — not only for overseas deployments, but also for the protection of domestic critical infrastructure.
The challenges posed by sUAS are diverse. Most drones are commercially available civilian products that can be easily obtained at low cost. They are often small in size and made of plastic, resulting in a minimal signature that is difficult to detect and track. In addition, these systems combine relatively high speeds with considerable agility. Commercially available yet highly capable systems are affordable and accessible to virtually anyone. Furthermore, they offer simple flight control, integrated navigation and mission-planning functions, extended flight times, and advanced HD camera technology.
To address these new and rapidly evolving threats, SMARTSHOOTER specializes in the development of advanced fire control systems for small arms, significantly increasing weapon accuracy and hit probability against static and moving targets on the ground and in the air — both day and night.
Documented Operations Against FPV Drones
Recent publicly documented combat experiences from Lebanon demonstrate the successful engagement of FPV drones using SMASH fire control systems under real operational conditions. These documented engagements particularly highlight the growing importance of kinetic C-UAS capabilities against modern threats such as highly agile and fiber-optic controlled FPV drones.
The analyzed operational cases show that modern fire control systems can significantly increase hit probability against small and fast-moving aerial targets. Of particular relevance is the ability to enhance existing weapon platforms with effective counter-drone capabilities without requiring extensive structural modifications.
From the perspective of IEA MIL-OPTICS, these developments confirm the increasing relevance of modern fire control and C-UAS technologies for military and law enforcement organizations worldwide.
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