developing· Security· Updated
Israel Aerospace Industries Tests New Drone-Mounted Machine Gun System
Israel Aerospace Industries and SIG SAUER have successfully completed live-fire testing in Israel of the FIRE STORM 250, an advanced tactical unmanned aerial system equipped with a remote-controlled machine gun. The system, which is also being showcased at the AUSA 2026 defense exhibition in Washington, D.C., is designed to provide close-range air support, intelligence gathering, and border security for small tactical units.
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What happened
- 01Israel Aerospace Industries and SIG SAUER successfully completed live-fire testing of the FIRE STORM 250 armed drone in Israel.
- 02The tactical drone is equipped with a remotely controlled MICROLIGHT weapon station mounting an M250 machine gun.
- 03The system can carry 200 rounds of ammunition and has a flight endurance of up to three hours.
- 04During simulated combat trials, the drone successfully detected and engaged targets from various altitudes and ranges.
- 05The entire weapon assembly weighs approximately 24 kilograms, which SIG SAUER claims is the lightest aerial weapon station.
- 06Human operators receive real-time video feeds and retain final authority over all firing decisions.
- 07The vertical takeoff and landing drone can operate from forward positions without requiring a runway.
- 08The FIRE STORM 250 system is being showcased at the AUSA 2026 defense exhibition in Washington, D.C.
During the simulated combat trials, the drone hovered over a battlefield, using its onboard camera to detect and identify targets before engaging them in single and semi-automatic fire modes from various ranges and altitudes. The weapon assembly integrates SIG SAUER's MICROLIGHT remote-controlled weapon station with an M250 machine gun and 200 rounds of ammunition, weighing approximately 24 kilograms. While the system features automatic target recognition, human operators receive real-time video feeds and retain final authority over all firing decisions.
The tactical drone, which utilizes an Apus 60 vertical takeoff and landing platform, can operate from forward positions without requiring a runway. Powered by a multi-fuel internal combustion engine, it has a flight endurance of up to three hours and can be refueled in the field. According to The Jerusalem Post, SIG SAUER has expressed a willingness to sell the system to Israel.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 6 newsrooms. Updated
Latest report: Arutz Sheva. Read Arutz Sheva’s original
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Israel Aerospace Industries Tests New Drone-Mounted Machine Gun System
