DefenseOne reports that the US Special Operations Command awarded Allen Control Systems (via ManTech) a contract for the Bullfrog autonomous turret, a sensor- and AI-equipped system that can mount M240/M2/M230/M134 guns or non‑kinetic options (e.g., laser dazzler) to detect and engage Group 1–3 drones. Company leadership and SOCOM officials say the turret addresses a growing, low‑cost drone threat seen in conflicts like Ukraine and recent disruptions at civilian sites, and fits special operators’ rapid‑acquisition model. Advocates highlight autonomy and common, cheaper weapons as a more sustainable counter‑UAS approach than costly interceptors. They write:

Some maritime special operators are getting a robotic turret that can turn machine guns into an autonomous drone-killer for boats and other vehicles.

U.S. Special Operations Command awarded defense tech startup Allen Control Systems a contract—value and quantity undisclosed—for its Bullfrog autonomous turret, the company announced Friday. The contract will be executed by ManTech, an established defense contractor.

Bullfrog is equipped with sensors and AI to spot and engage incoming drones in groups 1, 2, and 3, and can be armed with an M240, M2, M230, and M134 guns or non-kinetic weapons such as a laser dazzler.  […]

Drones are an increasing threat on and off the battlefield, driving demand for solutions that can disable them and pushing military units to shift how they handle the threat, as well as the tech they buy. […]

“Any country or clandestine group can now wage an effective war. It used to be expensive for a country to wage war, but now, with the rise of the drone, it’s just, it’s very easy to be disruptive,” he said. “Ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 for these small [first-person view] drones, interceptor missiles just really don’t make any sense. And right now, what we’re doing, we’re invested in a lot of electronic warfare, like I mentioned. And then the other thing we invest in as a military is interceptors. The US military—we have some of the best interceptors in the world—but they’re more expensive than the drone, and so that’s just not going to be long-term sustainable.”

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