Exclusive: France converts legacy AA53 20mm automatic gun into modern short-range counter-drone weapon.

According to recent information published by a French Army officer on LinkedIn, the French Army’s Technical Section (STAT) has completed development of the PROTEUS Standard 1 system, a fast-track modernization of the AA53 T2, a single-barrel 20mm automatic gun mount. Finalized in just four months, this upgrade marks a strategic leap in the French military’s response to the rapidly expanding threat of drones and remotely piloted munitions on contemporary battlefields.
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The French Army's PROTEUS system upgrades the legacy AA53 20mm automatic cannon with modern optics and fire control to deliver a low-cost, short-range counter-drone solution tailored for today’s saturated aerial drone threat environment. (Picture source: French MoD)

Originally, the AA53 automatic cannon was introduced by the French Army in the post-World War II era as part of a broader effort to standardize and modernize its support weapons. Derived from the AA52 machine gun family, the AA53 was developed specifically for anti-aircraft and light anti-vehicle roles. Chambered in 20x139mm NATO caliber, the weapon was gas-operated, air-cooled, and capable of firing up to 720 rounds per minute. It could be deployed in fixed defensive positions, mounted on tripods, or integrated into light armored vehicles, primarily for short-range air defense or direct fire support. While eventually overshadowed by newer systems, the AA53 remained in use for decades due to its mechanical reliability, compact profile, and adaptability.

The PROTEUS Standard 1 introduces a comprehensive overhaul of fire control, transforming the legacy AA53 T2 into a precise, all-weather, day-and-night counter-UAV weapon system. By integrating a stabilized TV and infrared camera, a digital ballistic calculator, and an inertial navigation system, STAT has tripled the accuracy of the original platform. These enhancements give operators the ability to detect, track, and engage aerial threats with far greater efficiency while keeping costs exceptionally low. This balance between performance and affordability is key as the French Army adapts to a future battlespace where drone saturation is expected to be constant.

This development comes in direct response to the dramatic shift in modern warfare driven by the mass use of low-cost, commercially adapted and military-grade drones. From loitering munitions to quadcopters and fixed-wing UAVs used for reconnaissance, electronic attack, and direct strikes, the battlefield is now saturated with aerial threats operating at low altitudes and short ranges. The ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have shown how drone swarms can overwhelm traditional air defense systems and inflict serious damage on logistics hubs, artillery positions, and command posts.

High-end missile systems such as MANPADS, SHORAD batteries, or radar-guided surface-to-air missiles are often too expensive or too slow to deploy in sufficient numbers to counter persistent drone threats. These systems are designed to engage larger or faster-moving targets and come with significant procurement and maintenance costs. Worse, firing a costly missile at a small, low-cost drone creates an unsustainable economic imbalance. PROTEUS offers a direct alternative to this problem by providing an effective and reusable kinetic solution capable of neutralizing drones at close range using inexpensive 20mm ammunition.

Initial deliveries of the PROTEUS Standard 1 are underway to the 35th Parachute Artillery Regiment (35e RAP) in Tarbes, one of the French Army’s elite rapid-reaction units. Their airborne role and operational flexibility make them an ideal first adopter to evaluate and validate the system in field conditions. Lessons learned from this deployment are expected to guide future rollouts across additional formations.

The French initiative is part of a broader international trend in which legacy gun systems are being reconfigured to meet the demands of modern drone warfare. In Ukraine, Soviet-era ZU-23-2 twin 23mm cannons have been adapted for mobile counter-drone use, often mounted on tactical vehicles and paired with commercial-grade optics, thermal sights, and digital range-finding systems. These low-cost solutions have proven their effectiveness in countering low-flying drones used in both surveillance and strike roles.

In Israel, the military is currently examining the potential of adapting the M61 Vulcan cannon as a ground-based drone-killing platform. According to the Israel Defense Forces, this six-barrel, electrically driven Gatling-style rotary cannon is capable of firing up to 6,000 rounds per minute. Originally developed for use on U.S. fixed-wing aircraft and produced by General Dynamics, the M61 is now being assessed for ground-based applications to defeat dense drone swarms and loitering munitions.

Turkey has also adapted its Aselsan SARP remote weapon stations to include drone-tracking algorithms and programmable ammunition, enabling effective engagement of low-altitude drones with 12.7mm or 20mm calibers. These developments reflect a shared tactical philosophy seen across multiple armed forces, focused on repurposing existing gun systems with modern sensors and targeting suites to build cost-effective counter-UAS capabilities.

What distinguishes PROTEUS is the French Army's structured, institutional approach to the problem. STAT’s ability to convert the AA53 into a modern counter-drone platform in under four months is a direct answer to operational urgency. The system is designed for scale, simplicity, and sustainability. It fills the critical gap between handheld anti-drone rifles and high-end missile systems, offering a permanent, reusable solution suited to static defense points, mobile artillery protection, and forward operating bases.

PROTEUS represents a new generation of battlefield innovation focused not on prestige systems but on survivability, readiness, and economy. As drone warfare evolves into a standard feature of every conflict zone, affordable and upgradable platforms like this will be key to ensuring the tactical superiority and adaptability of front-line forces.