The US Department of Defense has unveiled a new autonomous weapon to combat drones — the Bullfrog robotic machine gun, equipped with neural networks and requiring almost no human intervention. Developed by the American company Allen Control Systems (ACS), the Bullfrog is a compact turret weighing about 180 kilograms, equipped with an M240 machine gun with an effective firing range of up to 1800 meters. The main innovation of the installation is an electro-optical sensor and a computer with artificial intelligence, which provides aiming and targeting.

According to ACS representatives, the development took into account the latest tactical data obtained during modern conflicts, including the experience accumulated at the Air Defense Forces. Experts came to the conclusion that destroying small, fast and maneuverable drones, often flying at a significant altitude, is a difficult task even for professional shooters. Based on this analysis, Bullfrog was created, which independently calculates the trajectory and corrections for the shot. The operator only needs to confirm the shot by pressing a button, although this action can potentially be automated, the engineers note.

The Bullfrog system does not provide for the use of radar, which makes the installation compact and mobile, and the detection and aiming process is entirely entrusted to the built-in AI. According to the developers, this autonomous system can become an important element of defense against drones in high-intensity combat situations and at strategic sites, since artificial intelligence significantly reduces the human factor and the reaction time to the appearance of a target.