Striking Moving Drones Without Stopping: The New Technology of the U.S. Army Changes the Rules of the Game

The United States Army continues to invest in the development of technologies dedicated to countering drones, a threat that has become increasingly relevant in ongoing wars, from the Russian-Ukrainian conflict to the one between the United States and Iran.

The DEVCOM Armaments Center (Combat Capabilities Development Command) has developed and demonstrated a new fire control capability designed to allow military vehicles – while in motion – to detect, track, and neutralize small unmanned aerial vehicles.

The project underwent an initial testing campaign in April 2026 at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. The tests highlighted the ability to maintain targeting on the target and effectively engage flying drones even with the ground vehicle in motion, a crucial aspect considered vital for increasing the survival of units on the battlefield.

At the core of the solution is the integration of the Gunslinger fire control technology with a remotely operated weapon station already used by the U.S. Army – technically known as the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS). Gunslinger was originally developed under the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program for aviation applications but was subsequently adapted for engaging aerial targets from ground platforms.

A software combines advanced fire control algorithms with information from various sensors installed on the vehicle. Real-time processing allows for tracking the movement of the drone, continuously calculating the firing solution, and keeping the weapon aimed at the target despite the movements of the vehicle.

According to Nick Cascia, project manager, the goal is to provide an advanced capability to counter drones that can be rapidly adopted by the Army. Cascia described the results obtained during the tests as "a great start," emphasizing how the initial destruction of targets confirmed the work done by the development team on fire control algorithms.

One of the distinguishing features of the platform is the adoption of a modular and open software architecture. This approach allows for sharing the software across different Army systems and integrating future updates without redesigning the entire solution. In addition to increasing engagement accuracy, the system also aims to reduce the number of rounds needed to neutralize a drone, thus improving logistical efficiency and containing ammunition consumption.

The team is now planning a new series of tests with progressively more challenging operational conditions, increasing both the speed of the vehicles and the speed of the drones used as targets, in order to further refine the system's performance.