Cheap and disposable drones have proven to be effective as anti-armor and anti-personnel weapons, and as quick and fast recon elements. Their proliferation isn’t slowing down either thanks to their wide-scale production and affordability thus making them a serious concern for any infantry force.
Therefore, a number of anti-drone munitions are being developed to counter drone threats – and at SHOT Show 2026 expo, Sandboxx News had the opportunity to see three new dedicated anti-drone munitions.
Drone Round Defense’s purpose-built rounds for standard platforms
A lot of anti-drone solutions at the infantry level require a specific weapon system – be it a shotgun or electronic warfare measure – to be used. In a kinetic environment, that can be difficult to constantly manage for troops. However, the Drone Round Defense company is changing the game by introducing purpose-built rounds designed to be fired from standard rifles and machine guns.
These are 5.56 and 7.62 NATO cartridges that fragment as they are fired. The K variant turns into eight small projectiles and the L variant turns into five slightly large projectiles.
The rounds are belt-fed and suppressor-compatible and do not require any changes to the firing platform to be used. Instead, a user can simply swap magazines or belts and fire the on-demand, anti-drone munition. This simplifies logistics, and, since they are fired from semi-auto and automatic platforms, also allows for fast follow-up shots.
The K rounds have an effective range of 55 yards (or 50 meters) and the L variant of 100 yards (or 91 meters). The rounds can also destroy fiber wires for wired drones.
Norma’s AD-LER shotgun rounds
AD-LER stands for Anti-Drone – Long Effective range and is a modern spin on anti-drone shotgun munitions. Developed by the Swedish company Norma, these rounds are essentially a high-tech, long-range birdshot and utilize around 350 tungsten pellets to fill the sky with shot.
The AD-LER rounds can work with any 12-gauge shotgun. They are firing No. 6 shot with a case length of 2.75 inches. Their velocity is around 1,325 feet per second and their overall effective range 110 yards (or 100 meters).
Tungsten is denser and harder than steel, which allows the pellets to retain their velocity and punch at greater distances. These tungsten pellets also offer more penetrating power to deal with purpose-built ruggedized drones. They can rupture aluminum, carbon fiber, and plastic, turning delicate electronics into scrap material.
The AD-LER rounds are designed around the Benelli M4 A.I. Drone Guardian, a specialized semi-auto shotgun designed for anti-drone warfare. The mass amount of shot fired per round creates what’s essentially a net of ammo to hit fast moving drones.
Related: US military experiments with lasers as efficient solutions to counter drones
Maverick’s Skynet anti-drone net
Maverick’s Skynet system is designed for dense urban environments where missed shots could cause casualties. The Skynet is a 12-gauge cartridge designed to function with any standard 12-gauge shotgun. When fired, the round separates into five tethered projectiles that are connected to a high-strength ballistic fiber.
There are two variants: the single shot and double shot. The single shot fires a five foot wide net. The double shot fires two nets, one 14 inches and another 24 inches wide. The net tangles the drone up, causing it to crash.
The tethered projectiles vary in material. The zinc option has an effective range of 320 feet, whereas the tungsten and lead options offer 420 feet.
In the event of a miss, the system deploys a parachute to slow the projectiles and net down as they descend to avoid unintended casualties.
The SkyNet system could be employed by both civilian law enforcement and military forces to protect sensitive areas and installations.
Counter-drone measures will have to become a part of any successful military strategy. While there are plenty of high-tech solutions, the old infantry method of shooting lead, or tungsten, at them will still be the most common.
Feature Image by Drone Round Defense
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