Train at Scale to Defeat FPV Drones With Shotguns – sUAS News

By Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Warren, U.S. Marine Corps

A recent report from Task and Purpose’s YouTube channel discussed the role of shotguns in the Ukraine-Russia War. It discussed shotguns as a potential long-term solution to target small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at short range. Two thoughts came to my head after watching the video. First, maybe I can finally carry my beloved Remington 870 2.75-inch pump shotgun on a deployment. More seriously, considering shotguns’ effectiveness in the anti-UAV role, the U.S. military, and the Sea Services in particular, should conduct universal shotgun familiarization and training. 

UAVs are a well-established part of the modern battlefield, as their widespread use in Ukraine confirms. And though most vessels and installations possess anti-UAV capabilities, swarms of smaller drones have skirted even the best defenses. All means of countering unmanned capabilities should be explored.

Sophisticated anti-air defense and electronic-warfare systems are the preferred defense against drones, but when UAVs overwhelm or bypass these systems, as they sometimes do in Ukraine, shotguns offer a practical last line of defense. The ease of use and procurement of these legendary firearms make them useful for quickly neutralizing drones. The U.S. Army and Marine Corps have requested information from private firms on new counter-drone small-arms technologies, which is a step in this direction, but shotguns provide an immediate solution that the services should integrate into their defensive strategies for future conflicts. The U.S. Marine Corps and Navy need to rapidly implement training with shotguns to counter UAV threats. 

Lessons from Ukraine and Europe

The Ukraine-Russia War has provided valuable insights about how UAVs shape the modern battlefield, especially first person view (FPV) drones. FPVs’ ability to target infantry, vehicles, and logistical support assets has significantly affected both sides of the lines. FPVs can loiter over the area of operations and conduct precision strikes. They can deliver explosives while relaying crucial information, or they can hug the terrain to enable operators to approach targets undetected. Ukrainian and Russian forces use them to disrupt enemy movements, degrade armored capabilities, and create logistical bottlenecks.

Ukrainian soldiers have adopted various methods to counter these threats, but their semi-automatic shotguns have proven remarkably effective at disrupting Russian UAV operations. The shotgun is practical because it is durable and easily deployable, and its spread of pellets gives even a minimally trained warrior a good chance of getting a hit; training is still required to be more effective, though.

Allied nations such as France, Italy, and Belgium noted the lessons from Ukraine and have started incorporating shotguns into their defensive strategies against drones. All three countries have deployed different Benelli shotguns with traditional and specialized drone shells. During field tests, these weapons have proven very effective at taking down FPV drones from 80–120 meters away, leading to their employment with operational forces. The U.S. military needs to follow their lead, at scale, and fully train its forces to employ shotguns against close-in aerial targets.  

We Need Shotgun Training Now

Naval forces in particular should incorporate this training, since they tend to be the first large-scale units inside an enemy’s weapons engagement zone. The concept of training on shotguns for counter-aerial combat is not new or untested. During World War I and World War II, aerial gunners on U.S. bombers used shotguns as part of their training to improve accuracy and reflexes by shooting skeet with 12-gauge shotguns from moving vehicles. This helped gunners learn to track and shoot fast-moving objects, which simulated enemy aircraft. This unconventional method was surprisingly effective at preparing gunners for the intense combat situations they would face throughout the war. Shotgun training helped diminish aerial threats then and can do so again today.

The easiest and quickest way to start this training is via micro-learning videos. These short-form videos can be easily posted on service-training sites and on platforms such as YouTube. They should cover the basics of shotgun functions, various ammo types, simple marksmanship, and maintenance. Further videos can just as easily be uploaded to discuss targeting moving aerial targets.

Next, individual units should conduct practical application training at on- and off-base trap and skeet facilities. These evolutions will help troops of all occupational fields familiarize themselves with shotguns and engage aerial threats from various angles and speeds. In addition, units should identify Marines and sailors who have bird-hunting or trap-and-skeet shooting experience. This cadre of experienced shotgunners can form initial internal security units within their respective commands and can be the basic trainers of their peers until service-level training is developed.  

While some units across the services have already begun conducting drills and training with shotguns, these efforts need to be rapidly expanded. Intensifying this training across all branches will prepare frontline and support units for anti-UAV measures.

Drawing on Outside Sources 

The Marine Corps Shooting Team, together with other service shooting teams, actively seeks out new shooting techniques and methods through participation in civilian and military competitions. These techniques are then adapted for combat marksmanship and shared with operational forces. To enhance their anti-UAV shotgun skills, these teams should immerse themselves in the civilian trap-and-skeet and bird-hunting communities, gaining valuable insights and lessons. Some service teams already have dedicated shotgun shooters who could spearhead these efforts and accelerate the development of training methods.

By participating in civilian training events, competitions, and bird hunts, the team could learn advanced techniques and strategies that could be incorporated into standard military training and specific anti-UAV programs. Organizations such as the National Skeet Shooting Association, Wings of Valor, or Ducks Unlimited could help identify competitions and organized hunts, as well as find instructors to train service members in simulated combat environments. These organizations could also help individual units find local training events and competitive opportunities. Any insights gained could be presented at the next annual Marine Corps Marksmanship Symposium, where new methods could be discussed and implemented for the Marine Corps, then transmitted to the other services. 

The Ukraine-Russia war has highlighted the need for the U.S. military to adopt rapid shotgun training to counter drone threats. With their ease of use, deployment, and versatility, shotguns offer a practical last line of defense against this new aerial threat. Other NATO member-states have already incorporated shotguns into their defense strategies. The U.S. military, especially its naval forces, should quickly follow suit.

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