Across Europe, a growing number of military organizations are demonstrating an intensifying fascination with a sophisticated technology capable of transforming ordinary service rifles into highly specialized, last-resort tools for neutralizing hostile drones. According to statements from an Israeli arms manufacturer, this rapid surge of attention appears to coincide with a broader effort by nations to identify cost-effective and adaptable methods for countering the accelerating proliferation of uncrewed aerial systems on the battlefield.
A representative of Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), a company renowned for its extensive experience producing professional-grade firearms, told Business Insider that since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, no fewer than ten European countries have either already purchased or expressed formal interest in the firm’s new Arbel system. This compact microcomputer is designed to enhance the performance and accuracy of standard rifles, effectively optimizing them for the complex task of bringing down small, fast-moving drones. Although the manufacturer declined to specify which nations have become buyers or potential clients, the data collectively points toward a continent increasingly preoccupied with improving its anti-drone defenses and sustaining technological parity in a rapidly evolving arms landscape.
The renewed enthusiasm stems largely from the transformative impact that drones have had on the war between Russia and Ukraine, where these small but devastating devices have revolutionized both surveillance tactics and precision-strike capabilities. Drones continuously monitor enemy positions and facilitate unprecedented targeting accuracy, making them indispensable on modern front lines. As both belligerents develop economical countermeasures to mitigate drone threats, neutral observers and neighboring states—keenly studying the ongoing conflict—have started investing in comparable defensive solutions. IWI’s regional head for Europe, identified only as Semion for security reasons, explained that the Arbel system has already been adopted by several undisclosed militaries worldwide. He projected that, given current procurement trends, as many as 40 to 50 percent of European countries could either acquire or be close to acquiring the system within the next year. This, he noted, is clear evidence of Europe’s mounting commitment to affordable yet effective counter-drone measures.
Drones of diverse shapes, sizes, and technical sophistication now occupy critical roles in Ukraine’s contested skies. Among the most troublesome are the compact quadcopters configured as first-person-view devices—commonly called FPV drones—which can be modified to carry explosive payloads, effectively converting them into miniature, low-cost precision weapons. Soldiers often attempt to disable such drones by jamming their signal links and disrupting communications between the operator and the machine. However, this countermeasure is increasingly being circumvented as FPV drones are fitted with fiber-optic cables connecting them directly to their controllers, rendering them immune to traditional electronic warfare. Under such conditions, the only viable defense left to front-line soldiers is to shoot these drones down manually, a task requiring remarkable precision and no small amount of luck.
Because drones can maneuver erratically and shift direction within a split second, they present exceptionally difficult airborne targets. Even using shotguns—firearms better suited for spreading pellets over a wide area—there is no guarantee of success. Recognizing drones as a permanent, defining component of modern combat, militaries are now racing to equip their personnel with individual anti-drone solutions such as the Arbel system to provide an extra layer of protection in case they come under aerial attack.
Arbel itself is a diminutive yet powerful computerized module that can be seamlessly integrated into various types of light machine guns or assault rifles. Its main function is to significantly increase firing accuracy, particularly in situations that demand instantaneous reactions or when engaging small, fast, and unpredictable aerial adversaries. Semion explained that once the Arbel is activated, a soldier can hold down the weapon’s trigger continuously while the embedded microprocessor carefully analyzes weapon movement, shooter stability, trigger pressure, and environmental conditions. The system then autonomously determines the optimal moment to discharge each round, thereby maximizing the probability of hitting a target such as a drone. Under typical combat conditions, the Arbel enables successful engagements at ranges of up to approximately 450 meters in daylight and around 200 meters after dark.
The device is powered by a rechargeable battery and increases the firearm’s total weight by only about 400 grams—light enough for soldiers to adapt to it quickly in field operations. Although Semion refrained from revealing the exact cost, he emphasized that the system remains relatively inexpensive compared with more complex alternatives. He went on to liken the Arbel to personal protective gear, stating that, much like helmets or bulletproof vests, such enhancements have become indispensable because, in today’s warfare environment, drones have effectively become “the new bullets on the battlefield.”
The Arbel system, however, does not possess autonomous target discrimination; it merely provides advanced assistance. This means that ethical and tactical responsibility for target engagement remains with the soldier, who must decide when and where to fire. Earlier prototypes of Arbel entered limited distribution several years ago, but only with the dramatic escalation of drone deployment following Russia’s invasion did military observers begin to recognize its full potential as an effective and practical counter-drone measure.
The swelling demand across Europe underscores an urgent awareness of the exponential growth in unmanned aerial threats. Defense institutions throughout the continent are channeling resources into a wide range of anti-drone strategies designed to safeguard both infrastructure and personnel. Arbel now stands as one of several innovative systems enabling individual soldiers to confront drones with standard small arms rather than depending solely on large, specialized hardware.
Comparable technologies have been observed elsewhere: for instance, U.S. troops have trained with the Smart Shooter system, which integrates a sophisticated optical component capable of tracking a drone’s trajectory and notifying users when their chances of hitting the target are highest. Similarly, AimLock’s target-recognition technology—unveiled at a recent special-operations event—was demonstrated as a promising enhancement for small arms intended to strengthen the counter-drone fight. In parallel, numerous Western nations, taking cues from Ukraine’s extensive deployment of interceptor drones, are developing their own versions of autonomous aerial interceptors as an additional line of defense.
Together, these parallel developments signify a decisive shift in modern warfare philosophy. The integration of compact, intelligent targeting systems like Arbel epitomizes the new adaptive ethos of contemporary militaries—seeking innovations that combine precision, affordability, and practicality in equal measure to confront a future battlefield increasingly dominated by machines that can both observe and kill from above.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/europe-tech-turns-guns-into-last-resort-drone-killers-2025-12
