Smash 2000L: Smart fire control system for rifles helps in drone combat

The US Army has tested the intelligent fire control system for rifles, Smash 2000L, developed by the Israeli defense company Smart Shooter, during an exercise in Germany. The system, which works with artificial intelligence (AI), converts rifles so that they can recognize smaller aerial threats such as drones (sUAS – small Unmanned Aerial Systems) and better detect targets.

Small commercial drones converted for military purposes have proven to be a major threat and danger to soldiers in armed conflicts. However, combating such drones with conventional weapon systems is not easy because the targets are not particularly large, but they are fast. They are difficult to shoot down with the standard equipment of an infantryman.

Intelligent telescopic sight

Smash 2000L is essentially an AI-controlled fire control unit, an intelligent telescopic sight, so to speak, that can be mounted on standard rifles. The system was used on M4A1 carbines during a multinational exercise as part of the “Flytrap” project on June 6 in Germany.

The system comprises electro-optical sensors, uses computer vision and proprietary software for target acquisition. The Smash 2000L can scan the sky, detect and track smaller aerial targets, and suggest when the soldier should fire the weapon.

The system specifies the target point to be aimed at. The movement of the object to be engaged is considered. However, the soldier can only engage enemy drones if a hit is guaranteed. Otherwise, it is not possible to fire the weapon, the gun is then locked. Human timing errors when firing are thus avoided.

This is apparently intended to save ammunition so that it does not run out prematurely in a mobile operation. This is because engaging fast-moving targets is often associated with many missed shots and can otherwise only be achieved reasonably well with tracer ammunition.

Smash 2000L processes images in real time and recognizes targets automatically. This helps the shooter to aim at targets more accurately and hit them with a higher probability. In addition, the recoil of the weapon is compensated to increase the precision of a shot.

Lightweight extension for drone combat

Smash 2000L is part of a larger family of fire control systems developed by Smart Shooter. These are already in use in NATO armies. However, Smash 2000L (the L stands for lightweight) is particularly light compared to the other systems, at around 1.1 kg. It is also inexpensive. However, the exact cost is not publicly known. The US Army is investing 13 million US dollars in an unknown number of Smash 2000Ls.

It intends to use Smash 2000Ls to take out enemy commercial drones that have been converted for tactical military use.

(olb)