By ARIE EGOZI, Autonomy Global – Ambassador for Israel
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and SIG Sauer have collaborated on a new armed quadcopter concept that mates the IAI Apus 60 VTOL drone with the SIG Sauer M250 light machine gun in an emerging Firestorm 250 configuration.
IAI is providing the Apus 60 airframe, a variable-pitch quadcopter VTOL platform designed to loiter for several hours while carrying a meaningful payload for armed reconnaissance and precision engagement missions. SIG Sauer supplies the M250 light machine gun (the military designation of the SIG LMG 6.8) along with associated fire-control and optic components tailored for airborne use.
The weapon is mounted in a dedicated lightweight remote weapon station that is gyrostabilized to manage recoil and maintain accuracy when firing from the airborne platform. In its representative configuration, the system combines an Apus 60 airframe, the remote weapon station, the M250, and a typical load of approximately 200 rounds of 7.62×51 mm NATO ammunition.
The mount incorporates an electro-optical/infrared package offering up to 10× EO zoom and 5× IR zoom to support long-range identification and engagement. Onboard software is designed to automatically recognize and track targets and to support identification and engagement at line-of-sight ranges out to roughly 25 km, depending on conditions.
The overall solution leverages advanced AI algorithms to compress the sensor-to-shooter timeline by automating key elements of detection, tracking and fire-control. These algorithms enable autonomous threat detection, real-time situational awareness (including in degraded visual environments via a miniaturized SAR radar), and rapid neutralization, while the Apus 60 itself emphasizes highly autonomous flight operations. Intelligence analysis and mission synchronization are handled by the system’s AI, allowing a minimal human crew to supervise, authorize engagements, and manage the mission at a higher level rather than manually flying and aiming the platform.