Smart Shooter: Rising Small Drone Threats Drive Surge in U.S. Military Counter-UAS Demand

Israeli counter-drone systems manufacturer Smart Shooter says demand from the U.S. military for kinetic counter-UAS (C-UAS) solutions has grown substantially as small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) threats continue to evolve. Scott Thompson, Vice President at Smart Shooter, made the remarks in a recent interview with defense media outlet Breaking Defense.

Evolving Threats Fuel Demand

Thompson noted that the growing battlefield practice of converting small commercial drones into improvised attack weapons has prompted U.S. military units to actively seek more effective counter-drone capabilities. Compared with non-kinetic approaches such as electronic warfare jamming or directed-energy systems, kinetic intercept solutions are increasingly favored for their ability to physically destroy targets.

Smart Shooter is best known for its SMASH series of smart firing control systems, which use AI-powered computer vision to significantly improve infantry accuracy against small aerial targets using standard rifles or light weapons — without requiring the procurement of large, expensive dedicated air defense systems.

Multi-Branch Military Interest

Thompson emphasized that demand is not limited to a single military branch, but extends across multiple U.S. armed forces departments — underscoring that C-UAS has become a significant priority in current U.S. defense procurement. This aligns closely with the surge in drone threats that U.S. forces have observed across multiple global conflict zones in recent years.

The Case for Kinetic Solutions

The primary advantages of kinetic counter-UAS systems lie in their cost-effectiveness and reliability. Compared with high-cost missile intercept systems, pairing existing infantry weapons with smart targeting solutions offers a relatively affordable way to address mass saturation attacks by large numbers of small drones.

Smart Shooter's technology portfolio is well positioned to meet this demand, and the company is expected to continue expanding its footprint in the U.S. defense market.

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