The solution against drone swarms.

A machine gun capable of piercing armored tanks

Drone swarms are posing an increasingly serious challenge for modern air defense systems; while shooting down a single drone is relatively simple, the problem arises when dozens appear simultaneously—especially considering the cost of the munitions used to destroy them. Now, Northrop Grumman has unveiled a different solution to this problem: the Raid Hunter.

The system combines artificial intelligence, a Bushmaster automatic cannon, and 50mm ammunition capable of course-correction in flight. Essentially, a machine gun capable of piercing armored tanks—controlled by an AI deciding when to fire—what could possibly go wrong? Can you believe it? (Irony intended.)

The system uses sensors connected to a defense network to monitor airspace. An AI-equipped command-and-control system processes this information and can identify and track multiple threats simultaneously. These threats include coordinated swarms of small drones and even low-altitude cruise missiles. The Raid Hunter employs a 50mm version of the Bushmaster Chain Gun, a family of automatic cannons already in use on various military platforms.

Unlike a conventional cannon, however, it does not simply fire projectiles along a purely ballistic trajectory. The system uses precision-guided ammunition; after leaving the barrel, small control surfaces allow the projectile to make in-flight corrections. In practice, each shot behaves much like a small guided interceptor: if a drone moves or attempts to alter its path, the projectile can continue to adjust its course as it closes in on the target.

For now, the Raid Hunter is undergoing an accelerated testing campaign scheduled to run through 2026. Northrop Grumman states that it aims to rapidly validate the system to enable its deployment in the near future.