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IAI Demonstrates Fire Storm 250 VTOL Drone, VTOL Gun

By Drooid · Oct 17, 2026, 2:14 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Israel Aerospace Industries demonstrated the Fire Storm 250 drone with an M250 gun at AUSA, Washington, DC.
The Fire Storm 250 hovered, identified targets and fired in single-shot and semi-automatic modes.
The drone stays airborne three hours, carries 200 rounds and launches VTOL without a runway.
IAI unveiled Point@Air, a 70-meter mobile aerostat radar movable within hours.
Smart Shooter’s SMASH AI system turns rifles into precision-guided weapons that automatically engage small drones.

History

Historical Context

In 2001, the United States deployed the General Atomics MQ-1 Predator drone for the first combat strikes, reshaping modern warfare. The Predator, operated by the US Air Force, could loiter 24 hours, carry a 450-pound Hellfire missile, and cost roughly $2 billion for the program. Today Israel Aerospace Industries showcases the Fire Storm 250 drone with a 200-round M250 gun and Smart Shooter’s SMASH AI, echoing the Predator’s shift toward autonomous strike capability. That precedent drives defense budgets toward integrated UAV-weapon systems, prompting nations to invest billions in AI-guided air platforms for rapid, runway-independent engagements.

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Story summary

Israel Aerospace Industries demonstrated the Fire Storm 250 drone with an M250 gun at AUSA, Washington, DC.
The Fire Storm 250 hovered, identified targets and fired in single-shot and semi-automatic modes.
The drone stays airborne three hours, carries 200 rounds and launches VTOL without a runway.
IAI unveiled Point@Air, a 70-meter mobile aerostat radar movable within hours.
Smart Shooter’s SMASH AI system turns rifles into precision-guided weapons that automatically engage small drones.

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