Massive ‘drone killer’ guns at Pope Francis’ funeral attract global attention
These huge guns Italian soldiers were carrying at Pope Francis’ funeral were hard to miss — but you may be surprised to know what they actually do.
With religious leaders, royals, presidents and prime ministers, and hundreds of thousands of mourners — security at Pope Francis’ funeral was a complex and critical operation.
The Argentine pontiff, who died on Easter Monday aged 88 after a 12-year papacy, was honoured in a funeral mass at the famous St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Saturday.
Pictures of security forces carrying massive guns have drawn attention across social media.
One video, uploaded to X by Argentine journalist Elisabetta Piqué, was reshared by someone asking what kind of weapon the soldiers were armed with, and gained more than five million views.
These intense-looking weapons are Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS), also known as anti-drone guns.
They have the power to disrupt signals between a drone and its operator, forcing the small unmanned aircraft system to land or crash.
One version of the anti-drone gun seen at the funeral was black with a white plastic plate at the front and weighed about seven to eight kilograms, an Italian soldier told British newspaper The Telegraph.
The soldier described the “drone killer” as “a frequency jammer”, and was accompanied by another soldier keeping on eye out for aerial threats with binoculars.
“It is used by the army and the air force. We have been practising with it for a few years now but never needed to use it,” he told the publication.
Another version of anti-drone gun seen on the day looked a bit different with three barrels.
A no-fly zone over the Vatican area was enforced by NATO fighter jets.
There were also snipers on rooves, helicopters, a bomb squad and dogs unit.
Carabinieri military police chief Ciriaco Sarnelli described it as “an extraordinary operation”.
The Carabinieri are one of Italy’s main law enforcement agencies.
Mr Sarnelli told Sky Europe correspondent Adam Parson that they were there to handle common crimes, like pickpocketing, but also “the biggest, terrifying events”.
Rome Police control room spokeswoman Elisabetta Accardo told Parson it has been “hundreds of years” since the country last had to deal with a security operation this large.
Among the most high-profile guests in attendance on Saturday were US President Donald Trump (who was shot and survived an assassination attempt less than a year ago), former US President Joe Biden, Britain’s Prince William who was representing his father King Charles, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Australian-born Queen Mary of Denmark.
Other royals included Spain’s King Felipe and Queen Letizia, Monaco’s Prince Albert and Princess Charlene, Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, and Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Queen Rania.
From this side of the world was New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, but Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was not in attendance as the Australian federal election campaign enters its final week.
On behalf of Australia was Governor-General Sam Mostyn.
Originally published as Massive ‘drone killer’ guns at Pope Francis’ funeral attract global attention
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