ADJ
DURING the counter-insurgency wars in the Asia-Pacific, shotguns of various types were used by infantry squads in close-quarter jungle skirmishes against the enemy. Except for a few places in the region, the use of the shotgun by armies are long gone or have been minimised for a while. However, with the advent of the ongoing drone wars which is happening now in Europe and West Asia, the military forces of countries in those affected regions are utilising the use of shotguns again.
Enter the M4 A.I. Drone Guardian 18,5″ from famed gun maker Benelli Defense. Its combat-proven shotgun offers unmatched reliability in all terrains and weather conditions. Its primary purpose is to serve as a “last resort” weapon against small quadcopter FPV drones on the battlefield or to quickly neutralise spy drones. It can be deployed by a squad or firing team, and functions as a personal defence weapon (PDW) for individual operators in real combat situations.
Featuring a patented system with a larger and longer cone inside the barrel, this shotgun enhances the ability to hit targets at greater distances compared to standard shotguns, providing deeper penetration and destructive capacity. It is effective for engaging targets from 0 to 50m (optimal range) and can reach up to 100m or more (borderline shots).
Benelli’s Dr Mauro Della Costanza said: “This weapon is now used by the militaries of those greatly affected by the drone wars in Europe and the Middle East. The drone wars are happening now and are here to stay. Forces in this region should take note.”
Teams of shotgun carrying soldiers are assigned to vehicles and infantry squads in those high-density FPV drone scenarios, he added. “The M4 Drone Guardian automatic shotgun has been used by the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF) and the weapon system has also taken the interest of other forces in the region from Malaysia to Japan,” he told Asian Defence Journal’s Show Daily Today at the DronTech Asia 2026 exhibition.
Benelli also showcased their LIVET M4 (Light Vehicular Turret), a remotely operated and stabilised weapon station which employs 8 M4 AI Guardians. With 4 M4 AI Guardians on each side and the ability to be mounted virtually anywhere, the LIVET M4 can better engage unmanned threats, especially loitering munitions. The system includes a sensor suite and fire control computer that allows on-the-move target acquisition, automatic video tracker and first-burst target engagement.
Equipped with a day-light camera with 30x optical zoom, 2 high resolution thermal cameras in wide and narrow field of view (NFOV/WFOV) together with a laser range finder, the AI acquisition system can target up to 5 targets at any one time before engaging them one by one. The LIVET m4 can fire 80 rounds before it needs to be reloaded, which is a quick and easy procedure.–-shp/adj/dl (Pix:ADJ)
