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

Published Jul 21, 11:30 AM UTC

Allen Control Systems announced that the US Marine Corps has selected the Bullfrog autonomous weapon system for integration into its 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 currently relies on electronic warfare. The Bullfrog, already used by the Army and Navy, uses an M240 machine gun with 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 where cheap drones force expensive interceptor use. The decision comes amid conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East highlighting drone threats, and as the Pentagon seeks more scalable and affordable counter-drone solutions.