Army Buying $10 Million of Rifle Smart Scopes to Counter Small Drones
Why It Matters
Portable, rifle‑mounted anti‑drone scopes give infantry units a scalable, affordable way to neutralize small UAV threats, preserving mission tempo and reducing dependence on costly, heavy‑weight systems.
Key Takeaways
- •Army allocates $10 million for Smart Shooter’s Smash 2000LE scopes.
- •Smart scopes lock onto drones and fire only at impact point.
- •Device counters small UAS, including fiber‑optic, jam‑resistant drones.
- •Marines already deployed the scopes in Middle East operations.
- •Purchase likely covers ~300 units, enhancing fire‑team anti‑drone capability.
Summary
The U.S. Army is spending roughly $10 million on Smart Shooter’s Smash 2000LE (sometimes labeled Smash 3000) smart scopes, a new counter‑UAS solution aimed at the growing small‑drone threat at the fire‑team level. The device integrates a built‑in display, autonomous target detection and a lock‑on system that delays the firing pin until the bullet’s trajectory will intersect the drone, effectively turning a standard rifle into a precision anti‑drone weapon.
The scopes are designed to engage a variety of miniature unmanned aerial systems, including fiber‑optic platforms that are immune to traditional jamming. In a recent procurement, 200 units cost about $6 million, suggesting the $10 million budget could fund roughly 300 scopes. This provides infantry squads with a lightweight, low‑cost alternative to bulky microwave weapons or expensive missile systems.
Field reports indicate the Marine Corps has already fielded the scopes in Middle‑East theaters, with company footage demonstrating successful engagements. The video’s host notes the technology’s effectiveness and points viewers to a detailed article on taskpurpose.com for further information.
If widely adopted, these smart scopes could reshape small‑drone defense by giving individual soldiers a ready‑to‑use, cost‑effective tool, potentially reducing reliance on higher‑tier assets and altering tactical planning for drone‑rich environments.
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