Prepare at Scale to Defeat FPV Drones With Shotguns – sUAS Information

By Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Warren, U.S. Marine Corps

A current report from Job and Function’s YouTube channel mentioned the position of shotguns within the Ukraine-Russia Warfare. It mentioned shotguns as a possible long-term answer to focus on small unmanned aerial autos (UAVs) at quick vary. Two ideas got here to my head after watching the video. First, possibly I can lastly carry my beloved Remington 870 2.75-inch pump shotgun on a deployment. Extra severely, contemplating shotguns’ effectiveness within the anti-UAV position, the U.S. army, and the Sea Providers particularly, ought to conduct common shotgun familiarization and coaching. 

UAVs are a well-established a part of the trendy battlefield, as their widespread use in Ukraine confirms. And although most vessels and installations possess anti-UAV capabilities, swarms of smaller drones have skirted even the most effective defenses. All technique of countering unmanned capabilities ought to be explored.

Subtle anti-air protection and electronic-warfare programs are the popular protection in opposition to drones, however when UAVs overwhelm or bypass these programs, as they often do in Ukraine, shotguns provide a sensible final line of protection. The convenience of use and procurement of those legendary firearms make them helpful for rapidly neutralizing drones. The U.S. Military and Marine Corps have requested info from personal companies on new counter-drone small-arms applied sciences, which is a step on this path, however shotguns present an instantaneous answer that the companies ought to combine into their defensive methods for future conflicts. The U.S. Marine Corps and Navy have to quickly implement coaching with shotguns to counter UAV threats. 

Classes from Ukraine and Europe

The Ukraine-Russia Warfare has offered beneficial insights about how UAVs form the trendy battlefield, particularly first individual view (FPV) drones. FPVs’ potential to focus on infantry, autos, and logistical help belongings has considerably affected each side of the strains. FPVs can loiter over the world of operations and conduct precision strikes. They will ship explosives whereas relaying essential info, or they will hug the terrain to allow operators to strategy targets undetected. Ukrainian and Russian forces use them to disrupt enemy actions, degrade armored capabilities, and create logistical bottlenecks.

Ukrainian troopers have adopted numerous strategies to counter these threats, however their semi-automatic shotguns have confirmed remarkably efficient at disrupting Russian UAV operations. The shotgun is sensible as a result of it’s sturdy and simply deployable, and its unfold of pellets offers even a minimally educated warrior probability of getting successful; coaching remains to be required to be more practical, although.

Allied nations comparable to France, Italy, and Belgium famous the teachings from Ukraine and have began incorporating shotguns into their defensive methods in opposition to drones. All three nations have deployed completely different Benelli shotguns with conventional and specialised drone shells. Throughout area checks, these weapons have confirmed very efficient at taking down FPV drones from 80–120 meters away, resulting in their employment with operational forces. The U.S. army must observe their lead, at scale, and absolutely prepare its forces to make use of shotguns in opposition to close-in aerial targets.  

We Want Shotgun Coaching Now

Naval forces particularly ought to incorporate this coaching, since they are typically the primary large-scale items inside an enemy’s weapons engagement zone. The idea of coaching on shotguns for counter-aerial fight is just not new or untested. Throughout World Warfare I and World Warfare II, aerial gunners on U.S. bombers used shotguns as a part of their coaching to enhance accuracy and reflexes by taking pictures skeet with 12-gauge shotguns from transferring autos. This helped gunners be taught to trace and shoot fast-moving objects, which simulated enemy plane. This unconventional methodology was surprisingly efficient at getting ready gunners for the extreme fight conditions they might face all through the battle. Shotgun coaching helped diminish aerial threats then and might accomplish that once more at present.

The simplest and quickest option to begin this coaching is by way of micro-learning movies. These short-form movies may be simply posted on service-training websites and on platforms comparable to YouTube. They need to cowl the fundamentals of shotgun features, numerous ammo sorts, easy marksmanship, and upkeep. Additional movies can simply as simply be uploaded to debate focusing on transferring aerial targets.

Subsequent, particular person items ought to conduct sensible software coaching at on- and off-base lure and skeet amenities. These evolutions will assist troops of all occupational fields familiarize themselves with shotguns and interact aerial threats from numerous angles and speeds. As well as, items ought to determine Marines and sailors who’ve bird-hunting or trap-and-skeet taking pictures expertise. This cadre of skilled shotgunners can kind preliminary inner safety items inside their respective instructions and may be the fundamental trainers of their friends till service-level coaching is developed.  

Whereas some items throughout the companies have already begun conducting drills and coaching with shotguns, these efforts have to be quickly expanded. Intensifying this coaching throughout all branches will put together frontline and help items for anti-UAV measures.

Drawing on Outdoors Sources 

The Marine Corps Capturing Group, along with different service taking pictures groups, actively seeks out new taking pictures strategies and strategies via participation in civilian and army competitions. These strategies are then tailored for fight marksmanship and shared with operational forces. To reinforce their anti-UAV shotgun expertise, these groups ought to immerse themselves within the civilian trap-and-skeet and bird-hunting communities, gaining beneficial insights and classes. Some service groups have already got devoted shotgun shooters who may spearhead these efforts and speed up the event of coaching strategies.

By taking part in civilian coaching occasions, competitions, and hen hunts, the workforce may be taught superior strategies and methods that may very well be included into customary army coaching and particular anti-UAV packages. Organizations such because the Nationwide Skeet Capturing Affiliation, Wings of Valor, or Geese Limitless may assist determine competitions and arranged hunts, in addition to discover instructors to coach service members in simulated fight environments. These organizations may additionally assist particular person items discover native coaching occasions and aggressive alternatives. Any insights gained may very well be introduced on the subsequent annual Marine Corps Marksmanship Symposium, the place new strategies may very well be mentioned and applied for the Marine Corps, then transmitted to the opposite companies. 

The Ukraine-Russia battle has highlighted the necessity for the U.S. army to undertake fast shotgun coaching to counter drone threats. With their ease of use, deployment, and flexibility, shotguns provide a sensible final line of protection in opposition to this new aerial menace. Different NATO member-states have already included shotguns into their protection methods. The U.S. army, particularly its naval forces, ought to rapidly observe swimsuit.

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