By Arie Egozi, Autonomy Global – Ambassador for Israel
The Israeli company SMARTSHOOTER has brought artificial intelligence (AI) to the small arms battlefield with its SMASH family of fire control systems that deliver “first shot – first hit” performance against ground threats and drones in complex combat environments. The company’s SMASH 3000 sight has recently been selected for technology evaluation under the Australian Defence Force’s LAND 156 LOE 2 program. There, it will be assessed as part of a dismounted interim counter‑UAS ensemble.
AI At The Core of SMASH
An AI-enabled fire control system that uses computer vision, machine learning and advanced tracking algorithms to detect, lock and follow targets in real time, including small sUAS, forms the core of SMASH. Once the operator designates a target, the system calculates ballistics and only releases the shot when the aim point ensures a hit. This effectively transforms a standard rifle or weapon station into an AI-assisted precision weapon.
The SMASH family includes handheld-operated, remotely controlled and unmanned ground vehicle (UGV)-mounted configurations, all designed to boost hit probability against both ground and aerial targets, including drones. By integrating onboard computing with AI-driven target tracking, the system improves accuracy while helping to minimize collateral damage in urban and complex terrain.
SMASH 3000 for Counter-UAS
SMASH 3000 is SMARTSHOOTER’s lightest handheld fire control system, specifically engineered to give dismounted forces a hard-kill counter‑drone capability. The system enables soldiers to detect, track and precisely engage aerial and ground threats. It provides a combat-proven solution against drones and other small UAS in demanding operational scenarios.
Beyond precision fire, SMASH 3000 delivers enhanced situational awareness by allowing real-time target data sharing among soldiers via SMARTSHOOTER’s proprietary networking platform. This connectivity is designed to improve coordination and efficiency across the battlefield by linking individual shooters into a more integrated counter‑UAS and force protection architecture.
Global Adoption and AI-Enabled Operations
SMASH systems are already in operational service with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for counter-drone missions and close-quarter engagements. They have been exported to users such as the U.S. Army and other NATO and allied militaries. Remote SMASH-based stations deployed at certain checkpoints can also pair AI target tracking with non-lethal munitions for crowd-control and security operations.
Using an onboard computer, SMASH technology locks onto targets, tracks movement and synchronizes shot release to deliver rapid, precise engagements even against fast-moving threats. By merging AI, computer vision and ballistic computation, SMARTSHOOTER turns legacy weapons into “smart-shooting” platforms that enhance mission effectiveness, increase situational awareness and reduce risk to friendly forces and civilians.
Strategic Significance for Australia
SMARTSHOOTER CEO Michal Mor has described the Australian evaluation as an important milestone in the company’s long-term commitment to the Australian market. The LAND 156 LOE 2 work gives the Australian Defence Force a path to assess how AI-driven fire control can fit into its broader dismounted counter‑UAS, base defense and force protection concepts of operation.
As small drones proliferate on modern battlefields, AI-enabled fire control like SMASH 3000 offers a scalable, soldier-level hard‑kill option that complements electronic warfare (EW) and other soft‑kill counter‑UAS tools. For the global defense and autonomy community, the program underscores how AI has migrated from large platforms down to individual weapons to reshape how militaries think about precision, protection and lethality at the tactical edge.