US Marine Corps selects Bullfrog AI autonomous weapon system for drone defense

Published Jul 21, 11:30 AM UTC

Allen Control Systems announced that the US Marine Corps has selected its Bullfrog autonomous weapon system for integration into airborne defenses under the Ground Based Air Defense (GBAD) program. The AI-enabled system detects, tracks, and automatically fires at aerial threats like drones. It will be incorporated into the Light Marine Air Defense Integrated System (L-MADIS), which relies on electronic warfare. The Bullfrog M240 variant, compatible with the M240 machine gun, has a maximum effective range of nearly half a mile and can engage drones weighing up to 1,320 pounds. The company claims a cost-per-kill as low as $10, addressing the economic imbalance of using expensive interceptor missiles against cheap drones, a challenge highlighted by conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. The system is already in use by the Army and Navy.