Israel HayomSecurity16:48

IAI Unveils New Drone System with Remote-Controlled Machine Gun

By לילך שובל

Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba

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Hebrew · 6 newsrooms covering

Israel Aerospace Industries and SIG Sauer have completed firing tests for their new FIRE STORM 250 unmanned tactical system, which combines a drone with a remote-controlled M250 machine gun. The system can provide aerial observation and fire support, identifying and engaging targets from various altitudes and ranges. It can remain airborne for up to three hours with 200 rounds and allows human operators to maintain control over firing decisions. The system is intended for missions including close air support, intelligence gathering, and border defense.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

IAI and SIG Sauer tested the FIRE STORM 250 unmanned system with an M250 machine gun.
The drone provides aerial observation and fire support, identifying and engaging targets.
It can stay airborne for three hours, carrying 200 rounds, and operates vertically.
Human operators retain final authority over firing decisions.
The system is designed for missions like close air support and intelligence gathering.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and SIG Sauer have successfully completed firing tests for their new tactical unmanned system, FIRE STORM 250. The system, revealed at the AUSA 2026 exhibition in Washington, integrates a surveillance camera with a remotely operated weapon station mounting an M250 machine gun, designed to provide aerial observation and fire support to ground forces.

During the demonstration, the FIRE STORM 250 hovered over a simulated battlefield, identifying targets with its camera and engaging them in single and semi-automatic fire modes. The companies reported that the tests, conducted at various ranges and altitudes, proved the system's accuracy under changing conditions and highlighted its built-in safety features.

The drone is capable of staying airborne for up to three hours, carrying 200 rounds of ammunition, and can take off and land vertically, allowing operation from forward positions without requiring runways. It is powered by a multi-fuel internal combustion engine that can be refueled in the field with readily available fuel, eliminating the need to recharge batteries.

The weapon assembly, including the station, M250 machine gun, and 200 rounds, weighs approximately 24 kilograms. IAI stated that this assembly enables precise, stabilized firing by integrating sensor data with fire control information. While the system offers automation capabilities, the final decision to fire rests with a human operator who receives real-time sensor imagery and target tracking data.

Moshe Levy, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Military Aircraft Division at IAI, emphasized that future unmanned systems will be defined by their ability to combine intelligence gathering, decision-making, and operational action. He noted that FIRE STORM 250 extends the operational range for tactical forces and maintains a continuous situational awareness while preserving human control over engagement decisions.

IAI CEO Guy Barlev added that the future battlefield will depend on integrating intelligence, technology, and operational power into a single, effective response. He highlighted the collaboration with SIG Sauer as a way to combine complementary capabilities and develop solutions for ground forces' needs. SIG Sauer Israel CEO Sali Okinin described the integration of the unmanned platform with the weapon station and machine gun as providing a "new level of operational flexibility," noting the M250's proven technology and reduced weight make it suitable for unmanned platforms.