Belgium’s FN Herstal Unveils Layered Counter-Drone System with Cannon - Machine Gun and Shotgun.

Belgium’s FN Herstal has revealed a new layered Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) concept at the BEDEX 2026 defense exhibition in Brussels. The system combines automatic cannon fire, machine guns, and shotgun interception to defeat drones across multiple engagement ranges, reflecting growing military demand for scalable kinetic counter-drone defenses.

Belgian Company FN Herstal has introduced a layered Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) concept designed to defeat hostile drones across multiple engagement ranges, combining automatic cannon fire, machine gun interception, and close-range shotgun neutralization. Unveiled at the BEDEX 2026 defense exhibition in Brussels, the system reflects accelerating demand among armed forces for scalable kinetic counter-drone capabilities that can protect maneuver forces, forward operating bases, and critical infrastructure from increasingly diverse unmanned aerial threats, including small quadcopters and loitering munitions.
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FN Herstal’s DEFNDER remote weapon station equipped with a 30 mm automatic cannon forms the outer engagement layer of the company’s new C-UAS system, capable of destroying aerial threats such as drones and loitering munitions at ranges of up to 2,000 meters. (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)

The Belgian defense manufacturer’s concept integrates detection, identification, and layered kinetic effectors that can engage drones from very short distances out to approximately 2,000 meters. The architecture is designed to allow militaries to tailor configurations depending on operational needs, threat density, and deployment environment, whether defending static installations or mobile combat formations. The unveiling at BEDEX highlights the growing European industrial focus on sovereign counter-drone solutions amid the proliferation of inexpensive unmanned systems that continue to reshape battlefield dynamics.

At the core of the system is the FN DEFENDER, an automated weapon station equipped with a 30 mm cannon capable of destroying aerial threats at ranges of up to 2,000 meters. This system is intended to counter larger or more resilient drones such as tactical reconnaissance UAVs or loitering munitions operating at medium altitude or approaching defended assets at higher speed. The use of a 30 mm caliber provides significantly greater lethality and range than traditional machine gun-based air defense solutions, enabling engagement before drones reach the effective release distance for payloads or surveillance tasks. Depending on ammunition configuration, the system can employ programmable or high-explosive rounds optimized for aerial targets.

Complementing the longer-range effector is the FN Dual Light Multi Weapon Mount (Dual LMWM), configured with two FN MAG 7.62×51 mm machine guns. The FN MAG, one of the most widely deployed general-purpose machine guns in NATO service, provides a proven and reliable platform for rapid-fire engagement of small aerial targets. In this configuration, the dual-gun mount increases the volume of fire necessary to intercept agile small drones and quadcopters. The system is designed to defeat threats within an engagement envelope of roughly 80 to 400 meters, filling the critical gap between heavy cannon systems and close-in defenses.

For the final protective layer, FN Herstal integrates shotgun-based counter-drone capability designed for very close engagements up to approximately 100 meters. Shotguns firing specialized ammunition create a dispersed shot pattern, particularly effective against small commercial drones or first-person-view (FPV) attack drones operating at extremely low altitude or attempting last-moment approaches to protected assets. This inner defensive ring is especially relevant in urban or complex terrain where drones can suddenly appear at short range and where high-caliber weapons might pose collateral risk.

The concept reflects lessons drawn from recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, where small, inexpensive drones have demonstrated the ability to threaten armored vehicles, artillery units, logistics hubs, and command posts. These drones often operate in swarms or appear with minimal warning, forcing defenders to rely on layered defensive systems capable of engaging targets at different ranges and altitudes. FN Herstal’s approach mirrors emerging doctrine emphasizing tiered kinetic defense rather than reliance on a single weapon system.

A key aspect of the system is its integration with detection and recognition technologies designed to identify small aerial threats in complex environments. While FN Herstal is primarily a weapons manufacturer rather than a sensor developer, the company’s concept architecture is intended to integrate with radar, electro-optical tracking systems, and electronic warfare sensors provided by partner technologies. This modularity enables the kinetic effectors to operate within a broader counter-UAS network, improving target classification and engagement timing.

Operationally, such layered systems aim to reduce the cost-exchange imbalance created by drones. Small UAVs can cost a few hundred dollars, while traditional air-defense missiles used to intercept them can cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. By relying on cannon, machine gun, and shotgun solutions, militaries can maintain a low-cost-per-shot interception capability, enabling sustained defense against mass drone attacks without exhausting expensive missile inventories.

For NATO forces, the development is particularly relevant as the alliance accelerates efforts to improve short-range air defense and counter-UAS capabilities, drawing on operational lessons from recent conflicts. European armies increasingly seek solutions that can be mounted on armored vehicles, installed on fixed infrastructure, or deployed to protect expeditionary bases. The FN Herstal architecture could potentially be integrated onto existing remote weapon stations, ground vehicles, or static defensive installations.

From an industrial perspective, the unveiling underscores FN Herstal’s efforts to expand beyond small arms into integrated battlefield-effect solutions aligned with modern operational requirements. The company already supplies numerous NATO armies with machine guns and weapon stations, giving it a strong position to adapt existing platforms for counter-drone missions.

As drone warfare continues to evolve rapidly, the demand for layered, modular counter-UAS architectures is expected to grow across both military and homeland security sectors. Systems capable of combining detection, rapid engagement, and scalable firepower are increasingly viewed as essential elements of modern force protection. FN Herstal’s BEDEX 2026 unveiling demonstrates how traditional weapon manufacturers are adapting their portfolios to address one of the most disruptive technological shifts currently reshaping the battlefield.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.