Marine Corps Adds Bullfrog Machine-Gun System to Counter-Drone Defenses

Allen Control Systems announced Monday that the Marine Corps selected the Bullfrog autonomous weapon system for integration into its airborne defenses. Defense News reported the decision came under the Ground Based Air Defense program, which develops capabilities to protect forces from aerial attacks.

The Bullfrog is an AI-enabled system that detects, tracks and automatically aims firearms against drones.

The Marine Corps plans to incorporate it into the Light Marine Air Defense Integrated System, a counter-unmanned aircraft setup mounted on two vehicles that relies heavily on electronic warfare. The Bullfrog is already in use by the Army and Navy and has received approval from Joint Interagency Task Force 401, the Pentagon unit that streamlines counter-drone acquisitions.

War with Iran. American forces have used multimillion-dollar interceptors against Shahed drones that cost around $35,000 each. The Bullfrog M240 variant works with the belt-fed M240 machine gun. According to Allen Control Systems, the system reaches nearly half a mile, engages drones weighing up to 1,320 pounds, weighs 300 pounds without ammunition and achieves a cost-per-kill as low as $10.

The company also offers versions compatible with the M2 machine gun and M320 chain gun. Lockheed Martin separately announced a cheaper Patriot interceptor missile priced at less than half the cost of other multimillion-dollar interceptors.