Ukrainian soldiers operate a Soviet-era, truck-mounted ZU-23-2, an anti-aircraft gun boasting twin 23mm barrels. This is an early Cold War system with World War II DNA, and the scene could easily take place in 1945 or in Korea in 1951. Older, gun-based anti-air platforms have experienced a sort of renaissance during the conflict in Ukraine and have provided a tolerable countermeasure for smaller drones. There are some in the west, particularly the US, who are convinced that the answer for countering drones can be found in electronic countermeasures, and the UK has supposedly developed a pretty nifty laser, which may or may not be deployed on sharks. My concern is that these systems are expensive and that ECMs can eventually be defeated. Bullets, however, seem to do a great job at knocking drones out of the sky and little will change that. Older anti-aircraft guns have provided a stopgap to address the challenge offered by drones, and some have suggested simple solutions, such as equipping squads with shotguns. As fun as FPV drone skeet sounds (and I think it isn’t a horrible idea), I as cool as laser might be, there is ample technology on the shelf that can be applied to this situation, marrying modern detection and guidance systems with decades-old gun platforms. C-RAM has proved remarkably capable, but it is entirely possible to take this concept, shrink it, and give it greater mobility. Until then, soldiers seeking drone point defense will have to rely on their granddaddy’s anti-aircraft gun, and perhaps some 12GA game loads.

About the Author

Cam

Cam served as an infantry officer in the Marine Corps, deploying to the Horn of Africa and participating in combat operations in Iraq. He currently works in the maritime industry and in the defense sector as an instructor of combined arms planning and operations. An avid sailor, Cam founded and directs Triumph Sailing, a nonprofit that supports veterans and first responders through adventure and fellowship on the water. Triumph Sailing just completed its big yearly event, an offshore race in the Gulf of Mexico with an all veteran crew. You can support the mission and next year's sailing season at Tri-Sail.Org.