A new fire-control system from Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) is designed to improve rifle accuracy against small, fast-moving unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Called ARBEL, the 400-gram (14-ounce) system combines movement sensors, an electronic trigger mechanism, a dedicated firing mode, and a replaceable battery.
It can reportedly improve a shooter’s chances of hitting drones at up to 450 meters (492 yards) during the day and 250 meters (273 yards) at night.
When installed on an AR-15-style rifle, ARBEL replaces the lower receiver, placing its electronics and sensors inside the trigger assembly and its battery near the buffer tube and stock.
The system operates independently of the rifle’s sights, allowing troops to use iron sights, red-dot sights, low-power optics, thermal imagers, or night-vision devices.
It also emits no radio-frequency signals, while its replaceable battery provides around 60 hours of operation.
“The system enables military and law enforcement personnel to engage aerial threats while maintaining mobility, familiarity with their primary weapon, and operational effectiveness,” the company stated.
“As unmanned aerial threats continue to evolve, ARBEL provides a scalable capability that integrates seamlessly into the operator’s existing equipment.”
A Trigger That Controls the Follow-Up
In counter-drone mode, ARBEL uses a firing cadence refined through testing to improve the odds of successive rounds striking a moving target.
Once the system is activated, the soldier pulls and holds the trigger while ARBEL controls the timing of each follow-up shot.
Against conventional targets, its sensors monitor the rifle’s movement and delay the next round until the weapon is stable enough to fire accurately.
ARBEL does not detect, identify, or track drones on its own, however.
The soldier remains responsible for spotting the target, estimating its flight path, and applying the necessary lead correction.
