Smart Shooter Wins Landmark $150 Million Pentagon Drone Interception Contract

Defense tech firm Smart Shooter announced it has secured its largest contract to date, a framework agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense potentially worth up to $150 million. The deal is with the Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF) 401, a specialized unit established to combat drones. Smart Shooter will serve as the sole provider of its SMASH drone interception systems under this agreement.

The SMASH systems, which integrate with assault rifles and use AI-powered image processing for targeting, are designed to help soldiers neutralize small, fast drones. The framework agreement spans 36 months and includes the supply of systems, training, and related services. While the total value is up to $150 million, the company clarified that this ceiling does not represent a purchase commitment and will not be recorded in its order backlog until individual orders are placed.

This new contract follows previous agreements with JIATF 401 and other U.S. military branches, with thousands of SMASH systems already in use by the U.S. military. The company's flagship product, the "Arrow" sight, has been employed against attacking drones during the recent conflict in Israel. Smart Shooter's systems are also utilized by the Israel Defense Forces and security forces in the UK, Germany, and other NATO countries.

Smart Shooter, co-founded by CEO Michal Mor and CTO Avshalom Erlich, both former Rafael Advanced Defense Systems employees, is headquartered in Kibbutz Yagur, Israel. The company went public on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in March. In the first half of the year, Smart Shooter reported revenues of $16.3 million, a 27% increase year-over-year, but also a net loss of $4.9 million.