Japan Equips Infantry With Israeli SMASH 3000 Counter-Drone Sights

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force has begun using Israeli SMASH 3000 fire-control sights to improve its ability to engage drones.

This is shown in footage from Japanese infantry exercises published on X by the user KUSUROU.

The sights are being used with Howa Type 20 assault rifles, which are currently being procured as the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s standard infantry rifle.

Personnel have already trained with the systems in the United States and Japan, as well as during the Dharma Guardian 26 international exercise.

The systems are also being delivered to airfield security units in the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.

The SMASH is a compact fire-control module developed by Israeli company SMARTSHOOTER. It is mounted on the standard Picatinny rail of a small arm, turning the weapon into a precision engagement system without replacing the weapon itself.

The system combines a laser rangefinder, ballistic computer and computer-vision module that detects, locks onto and tracks targets in real time.

To use the system, the shooter aims the weapon through the sight’s optical system and presses the target-lock button. The algorithm then predicts the target’s future position based on the target’s movement and the movement of the weapon in the shooter’s hands.

The Japan Ministry of Defense signed its first contract to procure the sighting systems in November 2024.

The contract was signed with Solid Solutions, which will handle the export of the sights to Japan. The first batch was valued at $560.848 million.

The first sights entered service with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force in 2025. The ministry is also placing additional orders as part of efforts to equip infantry on a wider scale with the capability to counter drones.

Earlier, Militarnyi reported that Japan was accelerating plans to procure and develop drones, strengthening cooperation with Ukraine and adopting lessons learned from the war with Russia as part of its efforts to deploy larger numbers of unmanned aerial vehicles in the country.