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US Marines Roll Out $10 AI Gun Turrets to Stop Shaheds—With Eyes on Ukraine Deployment
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
American startup Allen Control Systems has signed a contract with US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) to supply its Bullfrog autonomous anti-drone turrets, according to Defense Express on September 30.
The systems are designed to be mounted on boats and various vehicles, with the contract executed through ManTech. Neither the cost of the deal nor the number of units to be delivered has been disclosed.
The Bullfrog system is described as a modular turret that can transform conventional machine guns into autonomous counter-UAV platforms. According to Defense One, the system is intended to defeat drones across NATO’s Group I to Group III classifications, ranging from micro-UAVs to large systems weighing over 600 kilograms.
Official presentation footage shows Bullfrog engaging aerial targets resembling Iranian Shahed-type long-range drones and their Russian variants, Geran.
The turret can be armed with weapons including the M240, M230, or M134 machine guns, with optional integration of laser systems if requested by the customer.
Its software incorporates artificial intelligence for target detection and tracking, allowing operators to issue only the fire command. The system includes passive detection sensors and is adaptable to multiple platforms.
Allen Control Systems states that the estimated cost per intercepted drone is about $10. In the M240 configuration, Bullfrog offers an effective range of up to 800 meters, a firing rate of 850 rounds per minute, and a system weight of roughly 75 kilograms without ammunition.
Defense Express notes that the US Air Force has also highlighted the shift toward using machine-gun platforms instead of expensive missiles to counter drones, reflecting a broader trend in counter-UAV strategy.
Earlier, Defense Express reported that the US Marine Corps is retiring its Long Range Fires (LRF) launchers for Tomahawk missiles due to poor mobility in soft terrain. These surplus systems, originally mounted on JLTVs, could potentially be adapted for Ukraine’s battlefield conditions.
