US Special Operations Forces to Equip Boats With Robotic Turrets With AI

US Special Operations Forces units will receive a robotic anti-drone gun turret for sea platforms.

Defense One reported that the US Special Operations Command has ordered an autonomous Bullfrog turret from startup Allen Control Systems, designed to counter drones from ships and other sea platforms.

The contract specifies that the turret will be equipped with sensors and artificial intelligence to detect and destroy enemy UAVs in classes 1, 2, and 3.

It can be armed with M240, M2, M230, or M134 machine guns, or with non-kinetic weapons such as a laser “blinder.”

Allen Control Systems CEO Steve Simoni, a former U.S. Navy engineer, said that U.S. forces need more autonomous defenses against drones.

He noted that drones are becoming increasingly dangerous, capable of striking expensive artillery systems and inflicting severe damage.

Within the contract, ManTech will carry out the work, and the Bullfrog turret will be integrated into special operations naval platforms.

The growing threat from drones, both on the battlefield and around critical infrastructure, is driving the military to adopt autonomous countermeasure systems.

The Bullfrog turret can operate independently, reducing the workload on crews.

SOCOM aims to deploy counter-UAS systems that can be installed on a platform, acquire targets, and operate autonomously during missions.
Militarnyi previously reported that Ukraine had developed a remotely controlled turret, the THP, which uses artificial intelligence to identify and target enemy personnel.