USA Orders Mossberg 590A1 Shotguns with Custom Barrels for Drone Interception

American company Mossberg & Sons has announced that it has received a new contract from the Pentagon worth approximately $11.6 million.

The agreement provides for the supply of an additional batch of Mossberg 590A1 pump-action shotguns for the US Army.

Mossberg 590A1 shotguns usually cost between $800 and $1,000 per unit under large government contracts. This price often includes not only the weapon itself, but also spare parts kits, accessories, and technical support. Thus, we are talking about the purchase of approximately 12,000 to 14,000 weapons.

According to Sandboxx News, this batch is being purchased by the US Army as a means of combating drones. They are planned to be used in conjunction with special tungsten shot ammunition to shoot down small UAVs.

The military has ordered a model with a 17-inch barrel — a specific configuration that was originally designed for convenient placement in submarine racks, but has now proven effective for mobile anti-drone groups.

The standard models for the military are usually shotguns with 14, 18.5, or 20-inch barrels.

To shoot down small drones, they plan to use 2-ounce tungsten No. 9 birdshot. A large number of small tungsten pellets create a dense cloud, ideal for hitting small targets.