Eight shotguns mounted on a single turret are at the center of Beretta Defense Technologies’ (BDT) latest counter-drone solution, designed to automatically neutralize small unmanned aerial vehicle threats.
Developed in partnership with Italian firm DUALEE, the LIVET remote-controlled weapon station (RCWS) integrates eight Benelli Drone Guardians into a single automated turret configuration.
Using a combination of sensors and software, the system is designed to automatically detect, track, and engage drone targets without requiring a human operator to manually aim the weapon.
The approach is intended to reduce the cognitive load on troops, allowing them to focus on mission execution rather than target alignment during incoming threats.
The company plans to debut LIVET at the Eurosatory 2026 exhibition in Paris, scheduled from June 15 to 19.
“This new solution further strengthens the already extensive BDT [counter-drone] portfolio, offering layered and modular capabilities tailored to different operational contexts and threat environments,” the company stated on social media.
Source of Firepower
The Benelli Drone Guardian is a semi-automatic shotgun that fires air-burst rounds intended to counter small drones at close range.
The rounds disperse projectiles in a controlled pattern, detonating at a preset distance from the target.
By mounting eight systems, LIVET introduces redundancy into the design, ensuring engagements can continue even if one unit fails or runs out of ammunition.
With a modular architecture, BDT indicates the system can be adapted for both fixed-site defense and vehicle-mounted deployments, underscoring its potential flexibility across mission profiles.
