Japan To Be Armed With Italian M4 A.I. Drone Guardian Anti-Drone Rifles

Japan’s Ministry of Defense has ordered semi-automatic M4 A.I. Drone Guardian anti-drone rifles from the Italian company Benelli.

The order is documented in the Ministry’s September 2025 procurement records.

According to the contract, the rifles are being purchased as part of a project to equip infantry units with tools to counter small UAVs.

The contract was signed on September 12, 2025. FLE is the sole authorized importer and distributor in Japan.

The M4 A.I. Drone Guardian is a semi-automatic variant of the M4 platform designed specifically to intercept small drones at short range.

The model features a new Advanced Impact (A.I.) barrel system that uses an elongated, widened cone in the bore. According to the manufacturer, this increases the initial impulse of shot or buckshot, boosting velocity by up to 4% and impact energy by up to 6% compared to a standard barrel.

The rifle uses a tubular magazine holding 6-7 rounds, depending on barrel length. It weighs about 3.9 kg with a 47 cm barrel. The ARGO (Auto-Regulating Gas Operated) short-stroke gas piston system is designed to ensure reliable operation in harsh conditions, including dirt, water, or dust.

In a press release, the manufacturer describes the model as a “weapon of last resort” against FPV drones.

Its technical characteristics provide an effective engagement range of roughly 0-50 meters, and up to 100 meters in extreme cases. The rifle has a telescopic stock, an M-LOK forend, and a red-dot sight mount.

Militarnyi previously reported that Italy introduced the STF/12 Composite XL Range 22″ QTA long-barrel pump-action shotgun for counter-drone use.

While previous STF/12 versions were focused on maneuverability in close- and medium-range combat — suited for operations in confined spaces — the Composite XL Range 22″ QTA was developed to counter fast-moving drones with unpredictable flight paths.

The shotgun features a 22-inch barrel and an extended magazine holding eight 12-gauge rounds (76 mm shell length), plus one round in the chamber, providing the capability needed to engage multiple targets in succession.