Gun sights ‘that can’t miss’ take aim at ISIS drones in Syria

US special operations troops in Syria are testing a ‘smart’ rifle sight that guarantees first-time hits.

A US soldier fires his M4 carbine rifle, a fully automatic version of which, the M4A1, is being used to test a ‘smart’ rifle sight for accuracy. Picture: US Army

US special operations troops in Syria are testing a “smart” rifle sight that guarantees first-time hits.

The Smash 2000 is so effective that it will stay steady and automatically choose the moment to fire even when soldiers are tired and shooting into a strong wind.

A US military video published last week shows troops using the sight on their M4A1 carbines to take down an airborne target slung underneath a quadcopter drone, in what is its first use by US forces in a combat zone.

The system is being tested at the vulnerable al-Tanf desert post in southern Syria, about 24km from the border with Iraq.

The post has come under frequent attack by Iranian-backed and pro-Syrian regime militias. Military commanders hope that its use will protect against the threat of fast-moving drones, widely used by groups such as ISIS, which are difficult to hit from the ground.

The software attached to the sight allows the rifle to be fired only when the camera and laser rangefinder have pinpointed the drone target and then it remains locked on to it as it flies closer.

The optical system tracks ground or aerial targets with a traditional red-dot sight image. Normally breathing and the natural tension of the moment will make a soldier’s aim waver as the target approaches. However, with this sight the soldier holds the trigger down while the device calibrates all the potential challenges.

The rounds are released when it is the right moment to fire. Even an average marksman will be guaranteed a first-time hit – if the rifle is not on target, the soldier will not be able to fire.

Smart Shooter, an Israeli company that has produced the sight jointly with Sig Sauer, the German firearm maker, says that any kind of infantry gun, including machineguns, can have the sight fitted to destroy armed enemy drones.

A growing threat in counterinsurgency conflicts in recent years has come from drones armed with bombs. Their small size and speed make them hard to hit with normal rifle fire.

The Times