Benelli Introduces the M4 A.I. Drone Guardian

The war in Ukraine has proven what a threat small drones can be whether they’re carrying explosive payloads or just snooping around the battlefield. It has become fairly common for both Ukrainians and Russians to use shotguns to counter enemy drones so it is unsurprising to see a leading tactical shotgun manufacturer bring an anti-drone shotgun set up to market.

Marketing the ‘M4 AI Drone Guardian’ as a weapon of last resort, it is a 12-gauge shotgun with either an 18.5in or 26in barrel, combined with No.4 buckshot, the A.I. stands for "Advanced Impact" and refers to a patented choke system which is intended to help extend the M4’s range. The shotgun also incorporates co-witnessed iron and a Steiner red-dot sight to aid in aiming.

Here’s what Beretta Defense Technologies have to say about the Benelii M4 A.I.:

“INTRODUCING THE Benelli Armi S.p.A. M4 A.I. Drone Guardian:

Modern warfare scenarios show the massive use of small FPV (First Person View) drones, piloted by quadcopters with individual visors and remote controls, attacking enemy troops on the ground, either directly or by firing anti-personnel grenades from above at squads of soldiers below, causing many casualties.

This new scenario paves the way for the first time for the use of the 12-gauge shotgun in combination with 4/0 buckshot type ammunition, creating a large enough swarm at distances of 50m or more to easily shoot down the drone at close range.

This is a ‘last resort’ defense that effectively saves the soldier’s life and is not feasible with pistols or assault rifles.

Benelli Armi S.p.A. -one of the world's leading shotgun manufacturers whose products are in service with government, law enforcement and military users in more than 90 countries around the world- has developed a specific line for this critical application:

The Benelli M4 A.I. Drone Guardian

A.I. stands for "Advanced Impact" a patented system of larger and longer cone inside the barrel able to improve capability to hit targets at longer distance compared to standard shotguns and with a deeper penetration.”