Shooting Smart: New Kit Helps UK Soldiers Destroy Drones

Soldiers in the U.K. are being equipped with a smart AI-enabled rifle sight that helps to shoot down drones.

"Drone Mode" software built into the SMASH X4 fire control system "can recognize unmanned aerial vehicle targets, automatically track them and help shooters eliminate the threat" as per its developer, Israeli tech firm SmartShooter.

As its name suggests, the SMASH X4 features a X4 magnifying optic scope but also features fire control capabilities. In other words, it can disable the trigger until the system has determined the weapon is correctly aimed.

Its software recognises visual cues such as a drone's rotating copter blades or the wobble of a fixed-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), then displays a 'kill box' in the scope and releases the firing mechanism.

This system, which ensure efficient expenditure of ammunition, can be fitted to a range of assault rifles, including the M4, the AR15, the SR25 sniper rifle and of course the L85 variant of the SA80, the standard issue service rifle of the British Armed Forces since 1987.

As per the SmartShooter website, the scope "increases hit probability to significantly enhance lethality and user survivability" and offers "a decisive tactical advantage for individual dismounted operations."

As per the BBC, paratroopers from 16 Air Assault Brigade in Colchester were the first unit to be equipped earlier this year; about 500 SMASH X4 sighting systems are currently in use with combat troops across the three services.